Canada-based Saltworks Technologies, which supplies systems for industrial wastewater treatment and lithium refining, has deployed two FusionRO plants to international clients.

FusionRO, a form of low-salinity rejection reverse osmosis (LSRRO), achieves a brine concentration of sodium chloride exceeding 220,000 mg/L at 50% lower capital expenditure and operating expenditure than evaporators, according to the company.

One plant was sold to a lithium refiner, and is concentrating lithium before conversion at a lower cost and energy than evaporators. The second plant was shipped to an industrial site to treat and reuse water while producing a minimal liquid discharge (MLD) brine.

FusionRO hybridizes ultra-high-pressure reverse osmosis (UHP-RO) with UHP nanofiltration to concentrate brines 175% higher than conventional seawater RO.

FusionRO requires half the number of high-pressure stages than lower-pressure RO systems, owing to its ultra-high pressure cascading loop design. The system features intelligent membrane monitoring, protection and preservation controls to maintain membrane health, delivering energy and cost savings compared to evaporators on suitable fluids.

Saltworks’ full-scale and pilot solutions are modular, factory-built and fully commissioned before shipping. Its plug-and-play design reduces installation time, cost and complexity in the field compared to conventional stick-built options, the company said.

Source: Saltworks Technologies