Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil Engineering

Membrane fouling is the main operating problem of reverse osmosis process, the research investigate the influences of fouling materials on the performance of three plant fed by (fresh municipal water, seawater, and ground water) assess the pretreatment processes, and normalizes and optimizes reverse osmosis unit design, the research conclude that, in first plant, aluminum-based fouling increases the permeate salinity 3 times, decrease flux 25% in 3 months in municipal water plant, replacing conventional pretreatment by ultrafiltration membrane pretreatment restore the plant performance. In second plant, colloidal and organic fouling decreases the fouling factor that elevates the applied pressure 15% in seawater plant. In third plant, iron-organic fouling, increase of well salinity and temperature, and improper pretreatment and membrane type causes 7 times replacement of plant membranes and prolong shutdown intervals, by changing these constrains the plant performance is modified

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