I have come across several research papers where the negative impact of fouling is carbon dioxide emission but i don't understand why and how something why is stuck in an equipment can cause CO2 emission?
Can anyone please elaborate? Thanks
Hello Nishta,
The attached note entitled "A note on CO2 environmental burden due to water desalination and membrane fouling" is related to your question, and may be of interest to you.
Best regards,
A J Karabelas
If you mean bio-film stuck inside pipes and tubes then the production of carbon dioxide could be due to digestion or other biological activities done by this film in presence of suitable environmental conditions for these activities
When fouling (in particular organic matter) builds up on the equipment, it undergoes bacterial decay (just like fermentation reaction) and CO2 and methane (CH4) gases are typically released.
Hope this helps answer your question.
Professor Yehia Khalil
Yale University
USA
Dear Nishtha,
Maybe the following is of help.
Can image the following explanation: When biofouling of membrane systems occurs then the feed pressure has to be increased to maintain water production. This increase in required energy is significant and can be translated to a higher CO2 emission, assuming a power station provides the energy. Most power stations in the world burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas to generate electricity.
I have seen a report which mentioned how much power plants can be shut-down when biofouling is controlled (do not remember the source)..
Best regards, Hans
Hello Nishta,
The attached note entitled "A note on CO2 environmental burden due to water desalination and membrane fouling" is related to your question, and may be of interest to you.
Best regards,
A J Karabelas
The process-associated (through its life cycle) CO2 emissions depend strongly (as referred by Hans) on the energy source used. Therefore it must be also taken into account when evaluating the environmental impact, including that due to membrane-based systems.
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