RO Membrane Protection For A Desalination Plant In Mejillones, Chile

In July 2022, NORACID—an industrial producer of 720,000 tons of sulfuric acid annually for regional mining operations—undertook a major upgrade to its seawater desalination infrastructure. The company relies on demineralized water to feed its high-pressure boilers, which are essential for electricity generation. However, performance issues with the existing desalination plant prompted a search for more effective biofouling control measures.

To address this, NORACID installed Atlantium’s RZ series HOD™ (Hydro-Optic Disinfection) UV systems. These medium-pressure systems were mounted vertically within a skid and integrated into the plant to undergo a rigorous 10-month evaluation. The goal was to assess the system’s ability to reduce biofouling on the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, a common and costly challenge in desalination operations.

A standout feature of the HOD UV system is its proprietary Total Internal Reflection (TIR) technology. This innovation recycles UV light within the system to deliver an evenly distributed UV dose, leading to enhanced energy efficiency and more effective inactivation of microorganisms. Early results from the study suggest the system offers a highly promising solution for long-term membrane protection and operational reliability.