Abstract
The arbitrary discharge of brine effluent from reverse osmosis treatment plants impacts negatively to the environment due to its high salinity. In the present study, brine effluent obtained from eMalahleni treatment plant, South Africa, was analyzed by pH, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids measurements. The ion chromatography and the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy were also used to examine the anion and cation content of the brine effluent. The analysis of major cations and anions indicated that the brine water quality was above the target water quality range for potable water. Geochemical modelling of the brine effluent classified the brine as a type 2 brine solution containing sodium sulphate salt. Furthermore, nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) produced from acid mine drainage or commercial ferric chloride was used to treat samples of the brine effluent. The treatment showed that the optimum nZVI dosage and contact time for the treatment of 50 mL of brine effluent having a pH of 6.06 at 25°C is 0.02 g and 60 min, respectively. The nZVI was able to remove about 70% of most of the elements contained in the brine effluent except for Na, Ca and K.
Recommended Citation
M. J. Alegbe et al., "Assessment of the Physical and Chemical Qualities of Brine and the Application of Nano Zerovalent Iron for the Treatment of Brine Effluent," Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 102, pp. 141 - 150, Elsevier, Jan 2018.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2018.21862
Department(s)
Mining Engineering
Publication Status
Open Access
Keywords and Phrases
Acid mine drainage; Brine effluent; EMalahleni treatment plant; Ferric chloride; Geochemical modelling; Nano zerovalent iron
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1944-3986; 1944-3994
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2024 Elsevier, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2018
