EPRI Publishes Report on Saltworks’ Successful FGD Industrial Water Reuse Project
"Chloride kidney" achieves 93% water recovery from flue gas desulfurization wastewater—without costly chemical pre-treatment
May 18th 2022
Saltworks welcomes the publication of a new report by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The report summarizes results from a pilot project completed by Saltworks at one of the largest coal power plants in the US. The project employed Saltworks’ FlexEDR monovalent electrodialysis “chloride kidney” technology to treat flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater at a coal-fired power plant. The project recovered 93% freshwater without the need for costly chemical softening.
The report, entitled “FGD Wastewater Treatment Testing Using a Saltworks FlexEDR Selective (Electrodialysis Reversal System) Technology”, gives an overview of treatment technologies, explains the need for selective chloride removal in FGD wastewater, and provides testing methodology and results that demonstrate FlexEDR’s performance. FlexEDR also previously won POWER Magazine’s 2020 Water Award following this same pilot project.
The FlexEDR chloride kidney system builds on industrialized electrodialysis reversal by integrating Saltworks’ proprietary IonFlux selective monovalent anion exchange membranes (mAEM). These membranes selectively remove chloride ions while preventing sulfate from entering the brine. This prevents the formation of scale-causing calcium sulfate and avoids the need to remove calcium via expensive soda ash softening—a requirement of reverse osmosis systems aiming to achieve similar recoveries.
Saltworks’ FlexEDR systems are also engineered to operate reliably in the face of higher organic and particulate loads than those tolerated by reverse osmosis. This means FlexEDR offers vastly simplified pre-treatment and lowered capital and operating costs when treating FGD wastewater for chlorides, all while achieving a high water recycling rate.
Saltworks is proud to provide leading technologies that are backed by third-party data and analysis. The FlexEDR Selective system can remove monovalent ions from most industrial wastewaters. If you have wastewater that is blown down due to chloride concentration then reach out to Saltworks for a solution that selectively extracts chlorides and recycles wastewater in a singular, robust unit operation.
About Saltworks
Saltworks Technologies is a leader in the development and delivery of solutions for industrial wastewater treatment and lithium refining. By working with customers to understand their unique challenges and focusing on continuous innovation, Saltworks’ solutions provide best-in-class performance and reliability with challenging waters and brines. From its headquarters in Richmond, BC, Canada, Saltworks designs, builds, and operates full-scale treatment plants, and offers comprehensive offsite and onsite testing services with its fleet of mobile pilots.
Related Resources
How to Improve FGD Economics with Chloride Removal using Selective EDR
As regulations on FGD wastewater tighten, additional treatment is required. Often, this is chemically intense, and high cost. The best means to lower treatment costs is to reduce the volume of wastewater generated, usually by increasing internal recycle.
Saltworks’ FGD Wastewater Solution Wins POWER Magazine’s Water Award 2020
Saltworks is honoured to receive POWER Magazine’s 2020 Water Award for our ground-breaking ‘chloride kidney’ industrial desalination solution.
Recycling Wastewater with FlexEDR for a Chilean Heavy Industry Client
Saltworks’ FlexEDR electrodialysis reversal technology has been selected by a heavy industry client located in Chile to recycle their wastewater. The FlexEDR system, provided in partnership with Chile’s VIGAflow, will use Saltworks’ proprietary IonFlux ion exchange membranes.
Ultra-High Recovery at Full-Scale: RO and EDR Plants Shipped
Saltworks is excited to announce the shipment of two ”competing” membrane-based industrial wastewater treatment plants. Although electrodialysis reversal (EDR) and reverse osmosis (RO) may be viewed as competing desalination technologies, Saltworks offers both and helps clients navigate the fit case for each.
