The project demonstrated a fully-integrated MBCx system including pretreatment, membrane pre-concentration, and forward osmosis (FO) for brine concentration. The MBCx provided continuous treatment of FGD wastewater generated at the plant to fresh water recovery levels of 90% and above.
The goal of the Water Research Center campaign was to demonstrate the effectiveness of Oasys’ technology for the US power industry in meeting the EPA’s new Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) for existing FGD wastewater.
The Oasys MBCx demonstration system treated an average of 5 GPM of FGD effluent and recovered 90 – 95% as clean, reusable water, meeting the EPA’s ELG limits (existing source, new source, and voluntary incentive program) for arsenic, selenium, mercury and nitrates. Concentrated brine total dissolved solids (TDS) levels exceeded demonstration targets, at 250,000 mg/L or higher. Recovered brine will be used in other research on solidification of FGD brine in combination with other power plant combustion byproducts for safe disposal as solid waste.
