MSAS`2008 130

Multifunctional Solar-Powered Membrane Filtration System for Malian Brackish Water.
Adrian Hightower1, Abdoulaye Doucoure2
1Occidental
College, USA
2Pall
Corporation, USA
Contact Author: Adrian Hightower, Department of Physics, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, 90041
[email protected]
Abstract
In response to the United Nations International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, Occidental College proposes to demonstrate
a prototype Multifunctional Solar-Powered Membrane Filtration system (MFSPMF) to convert Malian brackish water to potable water.
Occidental College seeks investigate technical strategies to make established pressure-driven membrane filtration systems accessible to rural
Malian communities. This work builds on an existing work with the Département d’Enseignement et de Recherche (D.E.R.) de Chimie de
la Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Bamako (FAST) to move their laboratory pressure-driven membrane filtration system into a rural
community. This paper discusses the issues of cost-effectively treating brackish and ground water by use of pressure-driven nanofiltration
membrane processes. Prior Art shows that renewable energy produced from photovoltaic cells can drive reverse osmosis unit and produce
safe drinking water (references can be provided upon demand). The system analyzed includes a feed tank (contaminated synthetic water,
local brackish/ground water); photovoltaic module (425Wp, total power); DC pump (e.g.: “Shurflo” 24V/48V DC pump); prefiltration
with local activated carbon or clay (removal of heavy organics/minerals); nanofiltration membrane. These technologies are known to
produce high quality water at affordable prices, and they are easily scalable.
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