Effect of polytetrafluoroethylene content on electrochemical anticorrosion behaviors of electroless deposited Ni-P and Ni-P-polytetrafluoroethylene coatings in seawater

The Ni-P and Ni-P-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings with various PTFE contents were electroless deposited on carbon steel and characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The microstructural morphologies of the coatings significantly varied with the PTFE content. As a result, the electrochemical anticorrosion capabilities were seriously decreased with the increase of the PTFE content. The coating with a trace PTFE (PTFE emulsion concentration of 0.2 mL/L in the plating bath) possessed excellent anticorrosion both in sterilized and unsterilized seawater which has been attributed to the absence of nano pores blocked by the incorporated trace PTFE nano particles.     

Seawater quality and microbial communities at a desalination plant marine outfall. A field study at the Israeli Mediterranean coast

Global desalination quadrupled in the last 15 years and the relative importance of seawater desalination by reverse osmosis (SWRO) increased as well. While the technological aspects of SWRO plants are extensively described, studies on the environmental impact of brine discharge are lacking, in particular in situ marine environmental studies. The Ashqelon SWRO plant (333,000 m³ d⁻¹ freshwater) discharges brine and backwash of the pre-treatment filters (containing ferric hydroxide coagulant) at the seashore, next to the cooling waters of a power plant. At the time of this study brine and cooling waters were discharged continuously and the backwash discharge was pulsed, with a frequency dependent on water quality at the intake. The effects of the discharges on water quality and neritic microbial community were identified, quantified and attributed to the different discharges. The mixed brine-cooling waters discharge increased salinity and temperature at the outfall, were positively buoyant, and dispersed at the surface up to 1340 m south of the outfall. Nutrient concentrations were higher at the outfall while phytoplankton densities were lower. Chlorophyll-a and picophytoplankton cell numbers were negatively correlated with salinity, but more significantly with temperature probably as a result of thermal pollution. The discharge of the pulsed backwash increased turbidity, suspended particulate matter and particulate iron and decreased phytoplankton growth efficiency at the outfall, effects that declined with distance from the outfall. The discharges clearly reduced primary production but we could not attribute the effect to a specific component of the discharge. Bacterial production was also affected but differently in the three surveys. The combined and possible synergistic effects of SWRO desalination along the Israeli shoreline should be taken into account when the three existing plants and additional ones are expected to produce 2 Mm³ d⁻¹ freshwater by 2020.     

Adsorption combined with ultrafiltration to remove organic matter from seawater

Organic fouling and biofouling are the major severe types of fouling of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in seawater (SW) desalination. Low pressure membrane filtration such as ultrafiltration (UF) has been developed as a pre-treatment before reverse osmosis. However, UF alone may not be an effective enough pre-treatment because of the existence of low-molecular weight dissolved organic matter in seawater. Therefore, the objective of the present work is to study a hybrid process, powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption/UF, with real seawater and to evaluate its performance in terms of organic matter removal and membrane fouling. The effect of different PAC types and concentrations is evaluated. Stream-activated wood-based PAC addition increased marine organic matter removal by up to 70% in some conditions. Moreover, coupling PAC adsorption with UF decreased UF membrane fouling and the fouling occurring during short-term UF was totally reversible. It can be concluded that the hybrid PAC adsorption/UF process performed in crossflow filtration mode is a relevant pre-treatment process before RO desalination, allowing organic matter removal of 75% and showing no flux decline for short-term experiments.     

Bio-film formation on stainless steels Part 2. The role of seasonal changes, seawater composition and surface roughness

Bio-film formation on type 254 SMO stainless steel in Arabian Gulfwater was followed by measuring the variation of the open circuit potentials of test coupons under a variety of conditions. The time-potential curves exhibited two plateaus corresponding to oxide thickening and later to bio film development. The rate of film formation was found to depend on the ambient seawater temperature, which varied with the season. The reduction of the biological activity of the water through additions of pre-boiled and cooled seawater resulted in the retardation of bio-film formation and in the shift of the final steady-state potential towards less positive values. Similar behaviour was obtained when concentrating seawater by the addition of solid salt. The simultaneous reduction of biological activity and of salt content resulted. The characteristics ofthe formed bio-film depend on the nature ofthe metal surfaces. Smooth surfaces allowed the development of thin clear films while thicker dark films formed on coarse rough surfaces. These were usually associated with the growth of worm-like structures, initiating crevice and pitting corrosion.     

滨海石化厂钛铜共用海水冷却器牺牲阳极保护探讨

上海石化钛铜共用海水冷却器，因袭用日本引进时的牺牲阳极，发生了钛管口吸氢脆裂，为此对有关保护面积、阳极的数量与材质、保护电位等问题进行了讨论。     

Application of alternative energy integration technology in seawater desalination

Technologies that are used mainly in the seawater desalination industry are reviewed and evaluated in this paper. The utilization principles, applications and problems of solar and nuclear energy in desalination are respectively summarized and discussed with emphasis. Other alternative energies such as wind, hydro-energy and ocean energy are also presented. Applying alternative energy integration technologies in seawater desalination as a key proponent to meet the future challenges of sustainable development and/or energy issue was also discussed.     

Cathodic protection of carbon steel in natural seawater: Effect of sunlight radiation

Cathodic protection of metals in seawater is known to be influenced by chemical–physical parameters affecting cathodic processes (oxygen discharge, hydrogen evolution and calcareous deposit precipitation). In shallow seawater, these parameters are influenced by sunlight photoperiod and photosynthetic activity. The results presented here represent the first step in studies dedicated to cathodic protection in shallow photic seawater. This paper reports on carbon steel protected at −850 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (oxygen limiting current regime) in the presence of sunlight radiation but in the absence of biological and photosynthetic activity, the role of which deserves future research. Comparison of results obtained by exposing electrochemical cells to daylight cycles in both biologically inactivated natural seawater and in NaCl 3.5 wt.% solutions showed that sunlight affects current densities and that calcareous deposit interfere with light-currents effects. Sunlight radiation and induced heating of the solution have been separated, highlighting results not otherwise obvious: (1) observed current waves concomitant with sunlight radiation depend fundamentally on solar radiation, (2) solar radiation can determine current enhancements from early to late phases of aragonite crystal growth, (3) a three-day-old CaCO₃ layer reduces but does not eliminate the amplitude of the current waves. Theoretical calculations for oxygen limiting currents and additional field tests showed that sunlight, rather than bulk solution heating, is the main cause of daily current enhancements. This was confirmed by polarizations performed at −850 and −1000 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (constant bulk temperature), during which the electrode was irradiated with artificial lighting. This test also confirmed O₂ discharge to be the cathodic process involved. A mechanism of radiation conversion to heat in the oxygen diffusion layer region is proposed.     

Reverse osmosis desalination: Water sources, technology, and today's challenges

Reverse osmosis membrane technology has developed over the past 40 years to a 44% share in world desalting production capacity, and an 80% share in the total number of desalination plants installed worldwide. The use of membrane desalination has increased as materials have improved and costs have decreased. Today, reverse osmosis membranes are the leading technology for new desalination installations, and they are applied to a variety of salt water resources using tailored pretreatment and membrane system design. Two distinct branches of reverse osmosis desalination have emerged: seawater reverse osmosis and brackish water reverse osmosis. Differences between the two water sources, including foulants, salinity, waste brine (concentrate) disposal options, and plant location, have created significant differences in process development, implementation, and key technical problems. Pretreatment options are similar for both types of reverse osmosis and depend on the specific components of the water source. Both brackish water and seawater reverse osmosis (RO) will continue to be used worldwide; new technology in energy recovery and renewable energy, as well as innovative plant design, will allow greater use of desalination for inland and rural communities, while providing more affordable water for large coastal cities. A wide variety of research and general information on RO desalination is available; however, a direct comparison of seawater and brackish water RO systems is necessary to highlight similarities and differences in process development. This article brings to light key parameters of an RO process and process modifications due to feed water characteristics.     

金属在海水中的腐蚀电位研究

获得了３８种金属在天然海水中浸泡１８０ｄ的腐蚀电位数据，列出了它们在海水中的腐蚀电位序，讨论了金属材料在海水中的腐蚀电位特性，分析了它们在海水中的腐蚀电位与耐蚀性的关系。结果表明，钝化能力强的金属，其腐蚀电位随浸泡时间变化较大，电位稳定时间较长，非钝化金属和钝化能力弱的金属则相反，对铝合金来说，初始电位，稳定电位较负，其耐蚀性较好，反之则较差。对不锈钢来说，稳定电位较正，其耐蚀性较好，反之则较差。