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The water-energy nexus, together with the need for sustainable management of these interconnected resources, has attracted growing attention from the scientific community. This paper focuses on this nexus from the point of view of the energy that is required by wastewater treatment plants, which are intensive energy consumers and major emitters of greenhouse gases. The main objective of the study is to investigate the possible use of a wastewater plant’s internal chemical, potential, and kinetic energy, and the addition of external renewable technologies with a view to achieving clean energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, an analysis is made of the feasibility of introducing alternative technologies—anaerobic digestion, hydraulic turbines, wind turbines, and photovoltaic modules— to meet the plant’s energy needs. The plant chosen as case study (Jinamar plant, Canary Islands, Spain) has an energy consumption of 2956 MWh/year, but the employed methodological framework is suitable for other plants in locations where the renewable energy potential has previously been analyzed. The results show that a renewable energy production of 3396 MWh/year can be obtained, more than enough to meet plant consumption, but also confirm the need for an energy storage system, due to seasonal variability in energy resource availability. In terms of climate change mitigation, the emission of 2754 tons/year of greenhouse gases is avoided. In addition, the economic viability of the proposed system is also confirmed.
Beatriz Del Río-Gamero; Alejandro Ramos-Martín; Noemi Melián-Martel; Sebastián Pérez-Báez. Water-Energy Nexus: A Pathway of Reaching the Zero Net Carbon in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9377 .
AMA StyleBeatriz Del Río-Gamero, Alejandro Ramos-Martín, Noemi Melián-Martel, Sebastián Pérez-Báez. Water-Energy Nexus: A Pathway of Reaching the Zero Net Carbon in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (22):9377.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBeatriz Del Río-Gamero; Alejandro Ramos-Martín; Noemi Melián-Martel; Sebastián Pérez-Báez. 2020. "Water-Energy Nexus: A Pathway of Reaching the Zero Net Carbon in Wastewater Treatment Plants." Sustainability 12, no. 22: 9377.
Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane is an attractive pretreatment technology used in desalination water system. However, the unavoidable membrane fouling over time is the key problem in the development of this technology. Fouling evaluation in the initial stage may provide relevant information about the fouling tendencies. In this work, the extent of fouling was investigated through a new method allows evaluating the fouling in cross-flow UF in the initial filtration stage. An empirical adjustment of flux decline data based on a bi-exponential equation with 4 coefficients is proposed for determining the Rcfi and RV − CF parameters. The first parameter Rcfi is defined as the initial cross-flow resistance. The second parameter RV − CF is defined as increasing resistance per specific volume of permeate in cross-flow. The measurement of the fouling parameters is evaluated in a laboratory facility with the following established conditions: (1) operation in cross-flow mode and (2) a flow measurement period limited to roughly 1 h. The procedure is intended to detect two different flow decline zones with different fouling processes at the initial stage of cross-flow filtration. The method applicability was tested with two cellulosic membranes of 10 kDa and 20 kDa and solutions of 4 kDa and 35 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) and alginate at different concentrations. In the case of the Rcfi parameter, the results show measurable values with high colloidal concentration of PEG. The RV − CF results shows a sensitive increase with foulant concentration, in different degree, depending on the type of solution and membrane used.
M. Hernández; N. Melián-Martel; A. Ruiz-García; B. Del Río-Gamero. Fouling characterization during initial stage of cross-flow ultrafiltration. Journal of Water Process Engineering 2020, 38, 101611 .
AMA StyleM. Hernández, N. Melián-Martel, A. Ruiz-García, B. Del Río-Gamero. Fouling characterization during initial stage of cross-flow ultrafiltration. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 2020; 38 ():101611.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Hernández; N. Melián-Martel; A. Ruiz-García; B. Del Río-Gamero. 2020. "Fouling characterization during initial stage of cross-flow ultrafiltration." Journal of Water Process Engineering 38, no. : 101611.
This research analyses the feasibility of supplying the energy demand of a grid-connected large size desalination plant by wave energy. One drawback of the wave technology is that it is not yet fully commercial and, therefore, many different technologies are available. Different arrays of wave energy converters have been selected for this study, comprising different type of technologies and technical characteristics. Two scenarios have been deployed, one based on wave energy and another one that combines wave energy and solar photovoltaic energy. The hourly analysis shows the matching between demand and supply. The aim is to establish if solar photovoltaic energy can improve the hourly matching between demand and production. The methodology proposed has been applied to a practical case which is a 15,000 m3/day reverse osmosis desalination plant located in the North of Gran Canaria, whose annual energy demand is 19 GWh per year. Results show that most of the wave devices selected are able to meet the yearly energy demand of the desalination plant although there are significant differences depending on the wave technology and in the hourly analysis. The combination of photovoltaic and wave energy improves the hourly matching in some cases but not in all. Thus, an hourly analysis of the specific technology is needed in each case.
Julieta Schallenberg-Rodríguez; Beatriz Del Rio-Gamero; Noemi Melian-Martel; Tyrone Lis Alecio; Javier González Herrera. Energy supply of a large size desalination plant using wave energy. Practical case: North of Gran Canaria. Applied Energy 2020, 278, 115681 .
AMA StyleJulieta Schallenberg-Rodríguez, Beatriz Del Rio-Gamero, Noemi Melian-Martel, Tyrone Lis Alecio, Javier González Herrera. Energy supply of a large size desalination plant using wave energy. Practical case: North of Gran Canaria. Applied Energy. 2020; 278 ():115681.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJulieta Schallenberg-Rodríguez; Beatriz Del Rio-Gamero; Noemi Melian-Martel; Tyrone Lis Alecio; Javier González Herrera. 2020. "Energy supply of a large size desalination plant using wave energy. Practical case: North of Gran Canaria." Applied Energy 278, no. : 115681.
Climate change mitigation in the integral water cycle. WWTPs as energy producers. Use of the plant intrinsic energy. Integration of renewable energies in WWTPs. Water–energy nexus as greenhouse gas emissions reduction tool.
B. Del Río-Gamero; A. Ramos-Martín; Noemi Melián Martel; S. O. Pérez-Baez. Using Water–Energy Nexus as Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Tool in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Plant-Microbes-Engineered Nano-particles (PM-ENPs) Nexus in Agro-Ecosystems 2019, 137 -140.
AMA StyleB. Del Río-Gamero, A. Ramos-Martín, Noemi Melián Martel, S. O. Pérez-Baez. Using Water–Energy Nexus as Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Tool in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Plant-Microbes-Engineered Nano-particles (PM-ENPs) Nexus in Agro-Ecosystems. 2019; ():137-140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleB. Del Río-Gamero; A. Ramos-Martín; Noemi Melián Martel; S. O. Pérez-Baez. 2019. "Using Water–Energy Nexus as Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Tool in Wastewater Treatment Plants." Plant-Microbes-Engineered Nano-particles (PM-ENPs) Nexus in Agro-Ecosystems , no. : 137-140.
N. Melián-Martel; J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Alejandro Ruiz García. Combined silica and sodium alginate fouling of spiral-wound reverse osmosis membranes for seawater desalination. Desalination 2018, 439, 25 -30.
AMA StyleN. Melián-Martel, J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso, Alejandro Ruiz García. Combined silica and sodium alginate fouling of spiral-wound reverse osmosis membranes for seawater desalination. Desalination. 2018; 439 ():25-30.
Chicago/Turabian StyleN. Melián-Martel; J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Alejandro Ruiz García. 2018. "Combined silica and sodium alginate fouling of spiral-wound reverse osmosis membranes for seawater desalination." Desalination 439, no. : 25-30.
Much of the deterioration of water resources is anthropogenically caused as a consequence of the incessant production of chemical compounds to obtain the quality of life that society demands today. This constant presence and harmful accumulation of these pollutants in different ecosystems have seen them emerge as a major concern both for human health and for environmental safety. Scientific advances have succeeded in legislating against, reducing and even eliminating priority pollutants, while new technologies are being constantly developed to identify and treat newly emerging pollutants. The objective of this work is the evaluation of the seawater reverse osmosis membrane as a method for the removal of an antibiotic present in seawater. The novelty of the study is that the tests were undertaken using water of high ionic strength. A critical selection of the antibiotic to be used in the study was carried out. The experiments were performed under constant pressure conditions, employing synthetic seawater in a pilot-scale unit with a commercial spiral-wound reverse osmosis membrane. Results are shown in terms of selectivity of the reverse osmosis process for antibiotic removal. The RO membrane element successfully reject most of the ciprofloxacin (removal rate >90%), with maximum rejection value of 99.96%.
J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Nenna El Kori; Noemi Melián Martel; B. Del Río-Gamero. Removal of ciprofloxacin from seawater by reverse osmosis. Journal of Environmental Management 2018, 217, 337 -345.
AMA StyleJ. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso, Nenna El Kori, Noemi Melián Martel, B. Del Río-Gamero. Removal of ciprofloxacin from seawater by reverse osmosis. Journal of Environmental Management. 2018; 217 ():337-345.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Nenna El Kori; Noemi Melián Martel; B. Del Río-Gamero. 2018. "Removal of ciprofloxacin from seawater by reverse osmosis." Journal of Environmental Management 217, no. : 337-345.
Fouled BWRO membrane elements from a full-scale desalination plant were characterized by collecting performance data and through a membrane autopsy in order to identify the fouling characteristics and behavior associated with feed water inorganic composition and operating conditions. This is the first time that membranes of a desalination plant have been autopsied with a data collection along 11 years of operation. The investigated membrane elements were taken after 11 years of operation. The BWRO desalination plant had a production capacity of 15 m3 d- 1 with a recovery of 60% approximately. It was fed from a groundwater well having cartridge filters and antiscalant dosing as a pre-treatment. It is a two stages desalination plant with the BW30-400 membrane element. Chemical and structural characterization was performed by visual inspection, qualitative analysis test and by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The fouling layer consisted of a biofilm detected in the first elements of the RO system. Biofilm comprising diatoms on all membrane elements were found. Inorganic foulants mainly consisted of calcium carbonate and aluminosilicates. The results highlight that it is possible to preserve BWRO membrane elements in service for up to 11 years using a correct conventional pretreatment with this kind of foulants. However, the membrane resistant increased more than twice over the operating period.
A. Ruiz-García; Noemi Melián Martel; Vicente F. Mena-Gonzalez. Fouling characterization of RO membranes after 11 years of operation in a brackish water desalination plant. Desalination 2018, 430, 180 -185.
AMA StyleA. Ruiz-García, Noemi Melián Martel, Vicente F. Mena-Gonzalez. Fouling characterization of RO membranes after 11 years of operation in a brackish water desalination plant. Desalination. 2018; 430 ():180-185.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Ruiz-García; Noemi Melián Martel; Vicente F. Mena-Gonzalez. 2018. "Fouling characterization of RO membranes after 11 years of operation in a brackish water desalination plant." Desalination 430, no. : 180-185.
J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Noemi Melián Martel. Environmental Regulations—Inland and Coastal Desalination Case Studies. Sustainable Desalination Handbook 2018, 403 -435.
AMA StyleJ. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso, Noemi Melián Martel. Environmental Regulations—Inland and Coastal Desalination Case Studies. Sustainable Desalination Handbook. 2018; ():403-435.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Noemi Melián Martel. 2018. "Environmental Regulations—Inland and Coastal Desalination Case Studies." Sustainable Desalination Handbook , no. : 403-435.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane fouling is one of the main challenges that membrane manufactures, the scientific community and industry professionals have to deal with. The consequences of this inevitable phenomenon have a negative effect on the performance of the desalination system. Predicting fouling in RO systems is key to evaluating the long-term operating conditions and costs. Much research has been done on fouling indices, methods, techniques and prediction models to estimate the influence of fouling on the performance of RO systems. This paper offers a short review evaluating the state of industry knowledge in the development of fouling indices and models in membrane systems for desalination in terms of use and applicability. Despite major efforts in this field, there are gaps in terms of effective methods and models for the estimation of fouling in full-scale RO desalination plants. In existing models applied to full-scale RO desalination plants, neither the spacer geometry of membranes, nor the efficiency and frequency of chemical cleanings are considered.
Alejandro Ruiz-García; Noemi Melián-Martel; Ignacio Nuez. Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination. Membranes 2017, 7, 62 .
AMA StyleAlejandro Ruiz-García, Noemi Melián-Martel, Ignacio Nuez. Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination. Membranes. 2017; 7 (4):62.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlejandro Ruiz-García; Noemi Melián-Martel; Ignacio Nuez. 2017. "Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination." Membranes 7, no. 4: 62.
Water resources available in the island of Fuerteventura come mostly from small-scale capacity seawater desalination plants. Desalted water demand in the island has grown considerably in the last decade forcing managers to adapt desalinated water supply constantly. Additionally, the operating cost of the plants is relevant. The staff, chemical consumption, cartridge filter, and membrane replacement cost are essential in order to establish more efficient operation conditions of a reverse osmosis desalination plant. This article aims to study and compare the mentioned cost of six different seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants with the same production of 600 m3/d in the island of Fuerteventura. The results show for each of the six cases how costs can be reduced and the essential role of automation dealing with the staff cost with the particular capacity of 600 m3/d.
J. Feo-García; Alejandro Ruiz García; E. Ruiz-Saavedra; Noemi Melián Martel. Cost assessment in SWRO desalination plants with a production of 600 m3/d in Canary Islands. DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT 2016, 57, 22887 -22893.
AMA StyleJ. Feo-García, Alejandro Ruiz García, E. Ruiz-Saavedra, Noemi Melián Martel. Cost assessment in SWRO desalination plants with a production of 600 m3/d in Canary Islands. DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT. 2016; 57 (48-49):22887-22893.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Feo-García; Alejandro Ruiz García; E. Ruiz-Saavedra; Noemi Melián Martel. 2016. "Cost assessment in SWRO desalination plants with a production of 600 m3/d in Canary Islands." DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT 57, no. 48-49: 22887-22893.
The Canary Islands has been pioneer on desalination in Europe since the 1960s and has continued to use intensively the desalination technologies in order to provide water resources. However, one of the most important problems related to the operating efficient of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants is dealing with the high-energy consumption. The present article aims to study, define, and compare the energy consumption cost of five SWRO desalination plants with the same production of 4,000 m3/d in the island of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands). The methodology for carrying out the work is based on analyzing the energy consumption data that directly affect to the operating cost. A comparison between different energy recovery systems was carried out using the data collected over 5 years of operation. The article presents an assessment of different ways to get more efficient operating conditions in order to reduce the operating cost.
J. Feo-García; Alejandro Ruiz García; E. Ruiz-Saavedra; N. Melian-Martel. Energy consumption assessment of 4,000 m 3 /d SWRO desalination plants. DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT 2015, 57, 1 -5.
AMA StyleJ. Feo-García, Alejandro Ruiz García, E. Ruiz-Saavedra, N. Melian-Martel. Energy consumption assessment of 4,000 m 3 /d SWRO desalination plants. DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT. 2015; 57 (48-49):1-5.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Feo-García; Alejandro Ruiz García; E. Ruiz-Saavedra; N. Melian-Martel. 2015. "Energy consumption assessment of 4,000 m 3 /d SWRO desalination plants." DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT 57, no. 48-49: 1-5.
Water has a huge economic, social and environmental importance, so the search of the precious liquid has become an intensive process in water policies of different countries. Therefore, the provision of water suitable for human consumption has now become a problem of vital importance for the population. The water desalination has led to a new strategy for water supply, especially in areas with high water stress and with opportunities of abundant new alternative sources of supply (seawater and brackish). Desalination technologies allow greater savings and efficiency in water use, exploitation of resources that were unusable previously like the peculiar case of sea water, as well as a greater guarantee of supply in terms of availability and quality, particularly in areas with poor water resources. In these areas often merge several factors that greatly favor the use of desalination. The Canary Islands are a clear example of this, as it has a large population, a great tourist industry, a shortage of the liquid element and a high demand for agricultural irrigation that conditions the availability and the need of new sources of high quality water. Water desalination, in the water policy of the Canary Islands, has been deeply rooted in the last forty years, allowing to solve and overcome the shortage and to ensure a quality suitable for human consumption. This article discusses the importance and significance that has had water desalination in the Canary Islands, made with a historical development of the evidence and key outcomes.
J. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Luis Álvarez Álvarez; Noemi Melián-Martel; Jaime Sadhwani Díaz. The Canary Islands and its passion for water desalination. DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT 2014, 55, 2340 -2350.
AMA StyleJ. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso, Luis Álvarez Álvarez, Noemi Melián-Martel, Jaime Sadhwani Díaz. The Canary Islands and its passion for water desalination. DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT. 2014; 55 (9):2340-2350.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Jaime Sadhwani Alonso; Luis Álvarez Álvarez; Noemi Melián-Martel; Jaime Sadhwani Díaz. 2014. "The Canary Islands and its passion for water desalination." DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT 55, no. 9: 2340-2350.
The assessment of long-term fouling in reverse osmosis (RO) membranes was investigated through extensive membrane autopsy using different analytical techniques. The RO membranes were taken from a seawater desalination plant after 4. years of operation. Chemical and structural characterization was performed using different analytical methods, including visual observation, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and ion chromatography (IC). The fouling layer consisted of particulate matter embedded in an apparently amorphous matrix, which was unevenly distributed over the membrane surface with the greatest accumulation in the valley areas. Inorganic and organic foulants were identified in the RO membranes. Inorganic foulants mainly consisted of hydrogen aluminosilicates and halite. The main organics substances identified were proteins, polysaccharides and humic compounds and were attributed to biofouling. Chemical analysis revealed that Si, Al, Cl, Ca, Na, Mg and K were the predominant elements contributing to membrane fouling. The reasons for the deposition of foulants on the RO membranes are the increase of membrane selectivity due to biofouling, the large size of cartridge filters and the high operating pressure. © 2012 Elsevier B.V
Noemi Melián Martel; J.J. Sadhwani; S. Malamis; M. Ochsenkühn-Petropoulou. Structural and chemical characterization of long-term reverse osmosis membrane fouling in a full scale desalination plant. Desalination 2012, 305, 44 -53.
AMA StyleNoemi Melián Martel, J.J. Sadhwani, S. Malamis, M. Ochsenkühn-Petropoulou. Structural and chemical characterization of long-term reverse osmosis membrane fouling in a full scale desalination plant. Desalination. 2012; 305 ():44-53.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNoemi Melián Martel; J.J. Sadhwani; S. Malamis; M. Ochsenkühn-Petropoulou. 2012. "Structural and chemical characterization of long-term reverse osmosis membrane fouling in a full scale desalination plant." Desalination 305, no. : 44-53.
Reverse osmosis is a widely used and rapidly growing desalination technology. Despite the many benefits the technology has to offer, still challenging to all desalination plants is the environmentally sensitive effects attributed to the discharge into the sea of the rejected brine, which can very often severely damage the receiving environment, and air pollutant emissions attributed to the energy demand of the process. The list of potential impacts can be extended; however, the available information on the marine discharges alone indicates the need for environmental mitigation measures. In order to safeguard a sustainable use of the desalination technology, there is a need to develop, in the short term, new management proposals to achieve a minimization of the impact and valorization of brine. These alternatives should be both economically viable and effective, not only for new setting up plants, but also for those already installed. An adequate treatment sequence has been proposed and developed for reusing and valorizing this saline waste from seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants (SWRO), in the well-known chlor-alkali industry by NaCl electrolysis in membrane cells. This alternative has been described from a technological, economical, and environmental point of view towards sustainability of SWRO desalination plants of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). The conclusions drawn out of this work refer to knowledge and control improvements concerning to the sustainability of desalination processes, to reduce the impact generated by brine disposal, and to reassess this saline residue as raw material in the chlor-alkali manufacturing industry.
Noemi Melián Martel; J.J. Sadhwani Alonso; S.O. Pérez Báez. Reuse and management of brine in sustainable SWRO desalination plants. Desalination and Water Treatment 2012, 51, 560 -566.
AMA StyleNoemi Melián Martel, J.J. Sadhwani Alonso, S.O. Pérez Báez. Reuse and management of brine in sustainable SWRO desalination plants. Desalination and Water Treatment. 2012; 51 (1):560-566.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNoemi Melián Martel; J.J. Sadhwani Alonso; S.O. Pérez Báez. 2012. "Reuse and management of brine in sustainable SWRO desalination plants." Desalination and Water Treatment 51, no. 1: 560-566.
Seawater desalination has become an important and ever-increasing industry which faces up the environmental situation of water scarcity present in some Mediterranean countries and in the Canary Islands (Spain). This activity presents several environmental drawbacks and negative impacts on marine ecosystems, originated mainly by the discharge into the sea of the generated brine. This emphasizes the need of introducing, in the short-term, new management proposals for this particular case which should be both economically viable and effective, not only for new setting up plants, but also for those already installed. As an alternative to brine disposal, an adequate system has been proposed and developed for the reuse of this saline waste coming from reverse osmosis desalination plants in the chlor-alkali industry by NaCl electrolysis in membrane cells. In this paper, the various treatment phases, necessary for the adaptation of this residue as an alternative raw material resource in the chlor-alkali manufacturing industry, are described. This study has been adapted to Pozo Izquierdo Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant, in Gran Canaria. This new and different residue reuse as raw material supposes the production and exploitation of new chemical resources, as for example: chlorine, hydrogen gas, and caustic soda.
Noemi Melián Martel; J.J. Sadhwani; Sebastián Pérez Báez. Saline waste disposal reuse for desalination plants for the chlor-alkali industry: The particular case of pozo izquierdo SWRO desalination plant. Desalination 2011, 281, 35 -41.
AMA StyleNoemi Melián Martel, J.J. Sadhwani, Sebastián Pérez Báez. Saline waste disposal reuse for desalination plants for the chlor-alkali industry: The particular case of pozo izquierdo SWRO desalination plant. Desalination. 2011; 281 ():35-41.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNoemi Melián Martel; J.J. Sadhwani; Sebastián Pérez Báez. 2011. "Saline waste disposal reuse for desalination plants for the chlor-alkali industry: The particular case of pozo izquierdo SWRO desalination plant." Desalination 281, no. : 35-41.