Purification of gases from water using reverse osmosis

• US 5,670,053 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zenon Environmental Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Zenon Environmental Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Collentro, William V., Collentro, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): FORTUNA, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US08/512,108
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 210/652, 210/651, 210/653, 210/900, 210/257.2, 95/43, 95/45, 95/46, 95/47, 95/51
• US Class Current: 210/652
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2317/025 Permeate series
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/026 comprising multiple reverse osmosis steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/027 Nanofiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/58 Multistep processes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/442 by nanofiltration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/90 Ultra pure water, e.g. conductivity water

Abstract

A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions and carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-era comprising the steps of providing a water feed stream to be purified, the stream containing cations, anions and carbon dioxide and/or ammonia; introducing the water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module; passing water through the first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia; adding the first permeate to a high pressure side, of a gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module; passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through the gas-permeable membrane from the first permeate in the high pressure side of the gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of the hydrophobic membrane and to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from the first permeate; transferring the carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane; and further purifying the carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through the second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a second retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity greater than 1 megohm-cm.

Claims

1. A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from a water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-era, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing water feed stream to be purified, said stream containing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(b) pretreating said feed stream by passing said feed stream through a nonofiltration membrane to remove membrane foulants prior to introducing said feed stream to a first reverse osmosis membrane;

(c) introducing said water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module;

(d) passing water through said first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(e) passing said first permeate to a high pressure side, of a first gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module, and

permeating carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said gas-permeable membrane from said first permeate in the high pressure side of said gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane and to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said first permeate;

(f) maintaining the low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane liquid free and subjecting said low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane to a gas purge to remove carbon dioxide or ammonia that has permeated the hydrophobic membrane; and

(g) transferring said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane, and

further purifying said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through said second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a second retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 including maintaining said feed stream at a pH in the range of 4 to 9.5.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 including maintaining said first permeate added to a high pressure side of said first gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module at a pH in the range of 5 to 8.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 including concentrating sodium and chlorine ions in said second retentate.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said water feed introduced to said first reverse osmosis membrane has a TDS in the range of 10 to 500 ppm and carbon dioxide in the range of 0 to 300 ppm.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carbon dioxide depleted retentate transferred to the high pressure side of said second reverse osmosis membrane has 0 to 300 ppm CO₂.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carbon-dioxide depleted retentate transferred to the high pressure side of said second reverse osmosis membrane has a TDS in the range of 5 to 50 ppm comprised of 0 to 100% sodium ions.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 including rejecting at least 90% of TDS contained in said carbon dioxide depleted retentate by said second reverse osmosis membrane.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 including maintaining the high pressure side of said gas permeable hydrophobic membrane at a pressure substantially identical to the pressure in the high pressure side of the second reverse osmosis membrane.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane module is maintained at about atmospheric pressure.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1 including maintaining said low pressure said of said hydrophobic membrane module at less than atmospheric to aid in drawing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said hydrophobic membrane.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of introducing an inert gas to the high pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane to sparge carbon dioxide thereinto for removal through said hydrophobic membrane.

13. The method in accordance with claim 1 including increasing said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to a pH greater than 8 and introducing said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second gas permeable membrane and passing ammonia through said second gas permeable membrane to provide a second retentate further depleted in ammonia.

14. A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from a water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-era, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing water feed stream to be purified, said stream containing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(b) pretreating said feed stream by passing said feed stream through a nonofiltration membrane to remove membrane foulants prior to introducing said feed stream to a first reverse osmosis membrane;

(c) introducing said water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module;

(d) passing water through said first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(e) adjusting the pH of said permeate to a pH in the range of 5.5 to 7.5 to favor removing CO₂ gas using a hydrophobic membrane;

(f) adding said first permeate to a high pressure side, of a first gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module, and

passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said gas-permeable membrane from said first permeate in the high pressure side of said gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane and to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said first permeate;

(g) maintaining the low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane liquid free and subjecting said low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane to a gas purge to remove carbon dioxide or ammonia that has permeated the hydrophobic membrane; and

(h) transferring said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane, and

further purifying said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through said second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a second retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 including maintaining the high pressure side of said gas permeable hydrophobic membrane at a pressure substantially identical to the pressure in the high pressure side of said second reverse osmosis membrane.

16. A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from a water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-era, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing water feed stream to be purified, said stream containing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(b) pretreating said feed stream by passing said feed stream through a nonofiltration membrane to remove membrane foulants prior to introducing said feed stream to a first reverse osmosis membrane;

(c) introducing said water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module;

(d) passing water through said first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(e) adjusting the pH of said permeate to a pH of greater than 8 to favor removing NH₃ gas using a hydrophobic membrane;

(f) adding said first permeate to a high pressure side, of a gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module, and

passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said gas-permeable membrane from said first permeate in the high pressure side of said gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane and to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said first permeate;

(g) maintaining the low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane liquid free and subjecting said low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane to a gas purge to remove carbon dioxide or ammonia that has permeated the hydrophobic membrane; and

(h) transferring said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane, and

further purifying said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through said second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a second retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 including maintaining the high pressure side of said gas permeable hydrophobic membrane at a pressure substantially identical to the pressure in the high pressure side of said second reverse osmosis membrane.

18. A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from a water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-era, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing water feed stream to be purified, said stream containing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(b) introducing said water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module;

(c) passing water through said first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(d) adjusting the pH of said first permeate to a pH in the range of 5 to 8 to favor removing CO₂ gas with a first hydrophobic membrane;

(e) adding said first permeate to a high pressure side, of a first gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module, and

passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said first gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane from said first permeate in the high pressure side of said gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane and to provide a second carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said first permeate;

(f) adjusting the pH of said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted second retentate to a pH of greater than 8;

(g) introducing said second retentate to the high pressure side of a second gas permeable hydrophobic permeable membrane module, and

passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said second gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane from said second retentate in the high pressure side of said second gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said second hydrophobic membrane and to provide a third carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said second retentate;

(h) maintaining the low pressure side of said second hydrophobic membrane liquid free;

(i) transferring said third carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane; and

(j) further purifying said third carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through said second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a fourth retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18 including maintaining the high pressure sides of said first and second gas permeable hydrophobic membranes at a pressure substantially the same as the high pressure side of said second reverse osmosis membrane.

20. A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from a water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing water feed stream to be purified, said stream containing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(b) introducing said water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module;

(c) passing water through said first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(d) adjusting the pH of said first permeate to a pH of greater than 8 to favor removing NH₃ gas with a first hydrophobic membrane;

(e) adding said first permeate to a high pressure side, of a first gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module, and

passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said first gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane from said first permeate in the high pressure side of said gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide an ammonia and/or carbon dioxide permeate on a low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane and to provide a second carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said first permeate;

(f) adjusting the pH of said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted second retentate to a pH in the range of 5 to 8 to favor removing CO₂ gas;

(g) introducing said second retentate to the high pressure side of a second gas hydrophobic permeable membrane module;

(h) passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said second gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane from said second retentate in the high pressure side of said second gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said second hydrophobic membrane and to provide a third carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said second retentate;

(i) maintaining the low pressure side of said second hydrophobic membrane liquid free;

(j) transferring said third carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane; and

(k) further purifying said third carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through said second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a fourth retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm.

21. A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from a water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing water feed stream to be purified, said stream containing cations, anions, carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(b) pretreating said feed stream by passing said feed stream through a nonofiltration membrane to remove membrane foulants prior to introducing said feed stream to a first reverse osmosis membrane;

(c) introducing said water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module;

(d) passing water through said first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia;

(e) passing said first permeate to a high pressure side, of a first gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module, and

permeating carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through said gas-permeable membrane from said first permeate in the high pressure side of said gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane and to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate thereby removing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from said first permeate;

(f) introducing an inert gas to the high pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane to sparge carbon dioxide thereinto for removal through said hydrophobic membrane;

(g) maintaining the low pressure side of said hydrophobic membrane liquid free; and

(h) transferring said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate to the high pressure side of a second reverse osmosis membrane, and

further purifying said carbon dioxide and/or ammonia depleted retentate by passing at least a portion thereof through said second reverse osmosis membrane to provide a second retentate and a second permeate, the second permeate having low levels of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia and having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-cm.