The use of reverse osmosis for the treatment of Rhine river water. Part I

This paper describes the experience of 19 months operation of a 16 m³/d reverse osmosis pilot plant operating under practical conditions on a highly polluted source (Rhine river). The main problem is the flux decline due to membrane fouling. The results represent the effect of parameters such as feed water quality and pretreatment, temperature, brine velocity and membrane quality. Using simple cleaning techniques, an essential constant production rate could be maintained during the 19 month test period, and membrane compaction was found to be negligible.