Desalination Processes

Research Paper # 101507

Environmental Studies
Geology and Geophysics > Environmental Science
Physics > Matter and Energy

This paper explores Perth, Australia's reverse osmosis desalination plant.

1,278 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at the three main mechanical processes of desalination commonly used today: electrodialysis reversal, thermal desalination and reverse osmosis. The paper discusses how the preexisting water supply was not enough for Perth, Australia to handle all the new people moving to the city. The paper describes how Perth began using the desalination process of reverse osmosis to treat its seawater. The paper examines the problems of costs and energy sources as well as their solutions. The paper concludes that Perth's new reverse osmosis plant has proven to other parts of the world that desalination can be a clean, efficient and cost-effective process.

From the Paper:

"Desalination is a mechanical process by which saltwater from oceans can be converted into drinking water for human consumption by removing the salt. There are three main mechanical processes of desalination commonly used today; electrodialysis reversal, thermal desalination, and reverse osmosis.
"Electrodialysis reversal is the most intricate and cost effective desalination system of the three commonly used processes. Electricity is used to ionicly charge the salt in the seawater molecules, and then it is passed through an ion permeable membrane filtering the charged salt molecules. On the other side of the membrane, the water is clean and safe to drink. This process is problematic because of its extensive use of electricity, which is expensive and sometimes unavailable."

Sample of Sources Used:

Sullivan, M. (18 June 2007). Australia Turns to Desalination Amid Water Shortage. National Public Radio. Retrieved December 3, 2007 from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11134967
Associated Press. (2007). Perth Seawater Desalination Plant, Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO), Kwinana, Australia. Retrieved December 3, 2007 from http://www.water-technology.net/projects/perth/
Laumer, J. (1 November 2007). Australia Stepping Back from the Coal-Fired Edge. Retrieved December 3, 2007 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/australia_stepp_1.php
United States Army. (2005). Water Desalination. New York: University Press of the Pacific.
Speigler, K.S. (1994). A Desalination Primer. Israel: Balaban Publishers.