Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater

Reverse Osmosis (RO) has already proved its worth as an efficient treatment method in chemical and environmental engineering applications. Various successful RO attempts for the rejection of organic and highly toxic pollutants from wastewater can be found in the literature over the last decade. Dime...

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Main Authors: Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi, Alejandro Ruiz-García, Ghanim Hassan, Jian-Ping Li, Chakib Kara-Zaïtri, Ignacio Nuez, Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/8/595
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author Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi
Alejandro Ruiz-García
Ghanim Hassan
Jian-Ping Li
Chakib Kara-Zaïtri
Ignacio Nuez
Iqbal M. Mujtaba
author_facet Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi
Alejandro Ruiz-García
Ghanim Hassan
Jian-Ping Li
Chakib Kara-Zaïtri
Ignacio Nuez
Iqbal M. Mujtaba
author_sort Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi
collection DOAJ
description Reverse Osmosis (RO) has already proved its worth as an efficient treatment method in chemical and environmental engineering applications. Various successful RO attempts for the rejection of organic and highly toxic pollutants from wastewater can be found in the literature over the last decade. Dimethylphenol is classified as a high-toxic organic compound found ubiquitously in wastewater. It poses a real threat to humans and the environment even at low concentration. In this paper, a model based framework was developed for the simulation and optimisation of RO process for the removal of dimethylphenol from wastewater. We incorporated our earlier developed and validated process model into the Species Conserving Genetic Algorithm (SCGA) based optimisation framework to optimise the design and operational parameters of the process. To provide a deeper insight of the process to the readers, the influences of membrane design parameters on dimethylphenol rejection, water recovery rate and the level of specific energy consumption of the process for two different sets of operating conditions are presented first which were achieved via simulation. The membrane parameters taken into consideration include membrane length, width and feed channel height. Finally, a multi-objective function is presented to optimise the membrane design parameters, dimethylphenol rejection and required energy consumption. Simulation results affirmed insignificant and significant impacts of membrane length and width on dimethylphenol rejection and specific energy consumption, respectively. However, these performance indicators are negatively influenced due to increasing the feed channel height. On the other hand, optimisation results generated an optimum removal of dimethylphenol at reduced specific energy consumption for a wide sets of inlet conditions. More importantly, the dimethylphenol rejection increased by around 2.51% to 98.72% compared to ordinary RO module measurements with a saving of around 20.6% of specific energy consumption.
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spelling doaj.art-63a2de3469de4b02abbd832116cb235e2023-11-22T08:37:57ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752021-08-0111859510.3390/membranes11080595Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from WastewaterMudhar A. Al-Obaidi0Alejandro Ruiz-García1Ghanim Hassan2Jian-Ping Li3Chakib Kara-Zaïtri4Ignacio Nuez5Iqbal M. Mujtaba6Technical Institute of Baquba, Middle Technical University, Baqubah 00964, IraqDepartment of Electronic Engineering and Automation, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainInstitute of Technology, Middle Technical University, Baghdad 10074, IraqDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, West Yorkshire, UKDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, West Yorkshire, UKDepartment of Electronic Engineering and Automation, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, West Yorkshire, UKReverse Osmosis (RO) has already proved its worth as an efficient treatment method in chemical and environmental engineering applications. Various successful RO attempts for the rejection of organic and highly toxic pollutants from wastewater can be found in the literature over the last decade. Dimethylphenol is classified as a high-toxic organic compound found ubiquitously in wastewater. It poses a real threat to humans and the environment even at low concentration. In this paper, a model based framework was developed for the simulation and optimisation of RO process for the removal of dimethylphenol from wastewater. We incorporated our earlier developed and validated process model into the Species Conserving Genetic Algorithm (SCGA) based optimisation framework to optimise the design and operational parameters of the process. To provide a deeper insight of the process to the readers, the influences of membrane design parameters on dimethylphenol rejection, water recovery rate and the level of specific energy consumption of the process for two different sets of operating conditions are presented first which were achieved via simulation. The membrane parameters taken into consideration include membrane length, width and feed channel height. Finally, a multi-objective function is presented to optimise the membrane design parameters, dimethylphenol rejection and required energy consumption. Simulation results affirmed insignificant and significant impacts of membrane length and width on dimethylphenol rejection and specific energy consumption, respectively. However, these performance indicators are negatively influenced due to increasing the feed channel height. On the other hand, optimisation results generated an optimum removal of dimethylphenol at reduced specific energy consumption for a wide sets of inlet conditions. More importantly, the dimethylphenol rejection increased by around 2.51% to 98.72% compared to ordinary RO module measurements with a saving of around 20.6% of specific energy consumption.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/8/595wastewater treatmentspiral wound reverse osmosismodellingspecies conserving genetic algorithm optimisationdimethylphenol removalenergy consumption
spellingShingle Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi
Alejandro Ruiz-García
Ghanim Hassan
Jian-Ping Li
Chakib Kara-Zaïtri
Ignacio Nuez
Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater
Membranes
wastewater treatment
spiral wound reverse osmosis
modelling
species conserving genetic algorithm optimisation
dimethylphenol removal
energy consumption
title Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater
title_full Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater
title_fullStr Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater
title_full_unstemmed Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater
title_short Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater
title_sort model based simulation and genetic algorithm based optimisation of spiral wound membrane ro process for improved dimethylphenol rejection from wastewater
topic wastewater treatment
spiral wound reverse osmosis
modelling
species conserving genetic algorithm optimisation
dimethylphenol removal
energy consumption
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/8/595
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