Treatment and Analysis of Reverse Osmosis Rejected Water from Industrial Processes

Abstract

This research study delves into the treatment and analysis of reverse osmosis (RO)-rejected water generated from industrial processes. As industries increasingly rely on RO technology for water purification, the management and proper disposal of the rejected water have become critical concerns. This study aims to investigate effective treatment methods for RO-rejected water, emphasizing sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches. The investigation encompasses in-depth analyses of the rejected water, aiming to discern its chemical composition both before and post-treatment. Various treatment methodologies, including simple distillation, fractional distillation, and coagulation using both coagulant alone (Al₂SO₄) and coagulant-flocculant (Al₂SO₄-polymer) combinations, were employed. The findings indicate that simple distillation proves most effective in reducing pH, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), alkalinity, and chlorides in reverse osmosis-rejected water. Conversely, fractional distillation demonstrates superior efficacy in treating conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and hardness. This nuanced approach to treatment underscores the importance of tailored strategies to address specific contaminants within the rejected water.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/jchr.v13.i6.1837