Proposed MLD-ZLD treatment for industrial RO concentrate, subject to client water analyses, recovery targets and salt-disposal requirements.
Project Background
The client is assessing treatment of reverse-osmosis concentrate from an industrial water-reuse application in Mexico. The design basis is not yet available. We need flow, operating-hour, recovery and full water-quality data, together with intended reuse and residual-disposal criteria, before selecting equipment capacities or confirming the final process.
Our Solution
We propose an engineered train beginning with equalization, screening and chemical conditioning, followed by clarification and filtration to control suspended solids and protect the concentration equipment. Depending on hardness, alkalinity, silica and scaling tendency, a softener or dedicated silica-removal step may be required before a secondary reverse-osmosis or membrane-distillation stage. The resulting brine would pass through staged thermal evaporation and controlled crystallization, with residual solids collected, dewatered and prepared for the client’s approved disposal route. Membrane cleaning, chemical dosing, energy recovery, monitoring and a water-salt balance are included in the assessment. Final equipment selection and capacity will change after the client provides the missing analyses, flow profile and recovery targets.
What We Asked First
Please confirm average and maximum concentrate flow, operating hours, continuous or intermittent discharge, RO flows and recovery, complete concentrate analyses, MLD or ZLD targets, reuse requirements, salt-disposal route, supply scope, available space, utilities, and the process flow diagram.
Proposed Process Train
- 1RO concentrate characterization and balancing
- 2equalization and screening
- 3chemical conditioning and clarifier filtration
- 4cartridge filtration and optional softener or silica removal
- 5secondary reverse osmosis or MLD stage
- 6staged thermal evaporation
- 7controlled crystallization and salt drying
- 8residual solids handling and water reuse
For Similar Projects
Prepare the water analyses, flow profile, recovery target, reuse specification, utility data and salt-disposal requirements. These items define pretreatment needs, membrane and evaporator loading, energy demand and the appropriate MLD or ZLD configuration.
Ref. A-015. Client identity is withheld under our client-confidentiality policy. Capacity is shown as a capacity class (design value rounded up to the next 5 at its second significant digit).
