ASSESSMENT OF ULTRAFILTRATION AS A PRETREATMENT OF REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES FOR SURFACE SEAWATER DESALINATION

The objective of the study was to assess the potential of ultrafiltration (UF) pre-treatment prior to RO for desalting seawater with high-fouling tendency, in comparison with a conventional pre-treatment. The performance of RO membranes downstream of UF exceeded the usual operating conditions encountered in seawater desalination. The combined effect of higher recovery and higher flux rate promises to significantly reduce the RO plant costs.