A presentation for

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF USING REVERSE OSMOSIS TO REMOVE

HEAVY METALS AND COLIFORMS FROM WATER

2

AuthorBrent Grisdale

President of Infinity Water Solutions IncPresident of Patronus Oil and Gas Ltd.President of Rigstar Communications Inc.

15+ years experience in the the Oil and Gas Industry

Former CFO of Angus Medical Inc.6 years experience in the medical industry

OverviewDefinition – Reverse OsmosisBackground InformationStudy ObjectivesRegulatory GuidelinesThird Party PartnersAnticipated Challenges and RisksSampling ProtocolData AnalysisSolution CharacteristicsInorganic ResultsMicrobial ResultsConclusionsRO Water Treatment - Advantages

Definition - Reverse Osmosis

The process of applying pressure (in access of normal osmotic pressure) to force a solvent from a region of high solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane to a region of low solute concentration.

Semi-permeable Membrane

Direction of Water Flow

Concentrate

Applied Pressure

Permeate

Background InformationThe water used for this study consisted of waste water from the City of Red Deer, waste treatment facility and potable water from the Village of Dewberry.  

Microbial contaminates from waste water Naturally occurring heavy metals in the potable water source. 

Contaminates of Concern Heavy Metals, consisted of the following inorganic constituents: Fe, Cd, Mn, Pb, B, NO3

‐2, Cr, Cu, Zn, F, Ba, Se, Ca, Mg, Na and SO4

‐2.Microbial testing related to total coliforms, fecal coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria.

Background Information

Analytes were selected based on their occurrence and prevalence in community water supplies and their potential health effect on human receptors. 

Background Information

Study ObjectivesTo quantify the effectiveness of reverse osmosis as a viable water treatment option to treat impacted potable water sources.Determine if  anthropogenic or naturally occurring contaminants can be successfully removed and/or  significantly reduced.Utilize non‐potable water sources for human consumption.

Regulatory GuidelinesTargeted endpoint parameters compared to current Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines (CCME) Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines for water use: Drinking, Recreational, Aquatic and Agriculture, respectively. 

Access Analytical LabsAn accredited laboratory that provided the analytical results.  Access provided expertise on sampling methodology, and preservation and sampling containers for the study.

Pegasus Environmental Services Inc.Founder and President Dr. R. Saint‐Fort assisted in the procedure and sampling protocols – Quality Control and Quality Assurance.  Dr. R. Saint–Fort provided additional technical support related to field analytical and water chemistry during the  feasibility study of the project and the report writing.  

Third Party Partners

Anticipated Challenges and Risks

Unable to remove and/or significantly reduce the contaminants of concernEquipment malfunctioningCross contamination

Sampling ProtocolSampling processes followed standard and prescribed field quality assurance and quality control (Appendix).All field samples verified from duplicates submitted to Access Labs. Study will be conducted in triplicate.

Experimental designPart 1 – Inorganic Contaminants

Iron, copper, zinc, fluoride, barium, selenium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, silicate, sulfate, mercury and arsenic

Part 2 – Biological ContaminantsTotal Coliforms, Fecal coliforms and Heterotrophic bacteria

Sampling ProtocolControls samples obtained from the both water sources.Samples of spiked water (solution) was analyzed prior to treatment.For Part 1 and 2 the samples will be obtained from:

2 different flow rates9 Membranes

A total of over 120 samples were analyzed during the study.

Sampling ProtocolFollowed strict adherence to standard & prescribed holding times & submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible.Preservative added after filling sample bottle and recorded.Inorganic and Physical Parameters;

Flow rates calibrated and measurements for each during experimental runsSample labeling: date, time, membrane number, experimental run, parameter analysis, name of samplerSample preservative as per Access LabsField sample storageSample containers: 250ml clean plastic container provided by Access Labs

Biological ParametersSampling container: 200ml sterile plastic sealed containers as provided by Access LabsTesting equipment includes heterotrophic plate counts

Data AnalysisThe removal efficiency for each analyte was determined for each constituent under various operating conditions and sampling stage.Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant difference in the resultsPercent removal for analytes removal was calculated  as follows:

Initial Concentration – Residual Concentration % Removal Efficiency =   ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ x 100

Initial Concentration

Solution Characteristics

Parameters Concentration (mg/L)F 2SO4 495NO3 48Ba 2Cu 0.40Fe 0.9Cd 0.005Mn 0.4Pb 0.03B 0.3Cr 0.04Zn 0.2Se 0.02Hg 0.013As 0.013Na 19Mg 185

EC 34 uS/mpH 8TDS 1280 mg/L

These were measured at the field level

Initial Inorganic Concentration of Parameters in Solution Water

Biological Concentrations of Parameter

• HPC/mL             = >738 CFU/mL• Total Coliforms/100 mL      = TNTC

Percentage Removal of Analytes Based on Field Screening Test Results_______________________________________________________________Parameters Run 1(1/1) Run 1(1/9) Run 1(2/1) Run 1(2/9) Run 1(3/1) Run 1(3/9)

----------------------------------% Removal Efficiency-----------------------------------------

Barium 100 100 100 100 100 100Copper 95 93 95 95 95 100Iron, Dissolved 100 100 100 100 100 100Nitrate-N 100 100 100 100 100 100Chromium 6+ 100 100 100 100 100 100TDS 96 100 100 100 100 100Conductivity 96 99 99 99 99 100Sulfate 100 100 100 100 100 100_______________________________________________________________*(1/1) indicates sample 1 and membrane 1, respectively.

Inorganic Results

Percentage Removal of Analytes Based on Field Screening Test Results_______________________________________________________________Parameters Run 2(1/1) Run 2(1/9) Run 2(2/1) Run 2(2/9) Run 2(3/1) Run 2(3/9)

----------------------------------% Removal Efficiency-----------------------------------------

Barium 100 100 100 100 100 100Copper 98 98 95 93 93 95Iron, Dissolved 100 100 100 100 100 100Nitrate-N 100 100 100 100 100 100Chromium 6+ 100 100 100 100 100 100TDS 100 100 100 100 100 100Conductivity 99 100 99 100 99 100Sulfate 100 100 100 100 100 100_______________________________________________________________*(1/1) indicates sample 1 and membrane 1, respectively.

Inorganic Results

Inorganic Results

6065707580859095

100Ar

seni

c

Bariu

m

Bor

on

Cad

miu

m

Chr

omiu

m

Cop

per

Iron

Lead

Man

gane

se

Mer

cury

Sele

nium Zinc

Flou

ride

Nitr

ate

Sulfa

te

Mag

nesi

um

% Rem

oval Efficiency

Percentage Removal of Analytes Based on Lab Results

Inorganic Results

6065707580859095

100

Arse

nic

Bar

ium

Boro

nC

adm

ium

Chr

omiu

m

Cop

per

Iron

Lead

Man

gane

se

Mer

cury

Sel

eniu

m

Zinc

Flou

ride

Nitr

ate

Sul

fate

Mag

nesi

um

% Rem

oval Efficiency

Percentage Removal of Analytes Based on Lab Results

Microbial Results

Sample I.D HPC/mL Total Coliforms/100 mL*M1F1 18 < 1M2F1 4 < 1M3F1 110 < 1M4F1 34 < 1M5F1 45 <1M6F1 20 < 1M7F1 100 **TNTCM8F1 90 < 1M9F1 100 < 1M1F2 7 < 1M2F2 4 < 1M3F2 130 < 1M4F2 17 < 1M5F2 43 < 1M6F2 8 < 1M7F2 TNTC TNTCM8F2 3 < 1M9F2 33 < 1***CON1 TNTC TNTC

*M1F1 = Membrane 1 Flow Rate 1**TNTC = Too numerous to count***CON1 = Concentrate 1

Field Screening Test Results for Microbial Contaminants

ConclusionsThis study has successfully demonstrated the potential and effectiveness of reverse osmosis to treat heavy metals and biological contaminants found in some potable water sources. 

Based on the lab and field screening results, none of the CCME regulated inorganic and microbial parameters in the collected water samples exceeded the CCME criteria for drinking water, freshwater aquatic life or agricultural water use, respectively.  

ConclusionsImportant Findings:

Sterilization, cross contamination and maintenance have to be effectively implemented and strictly adhered to.

Membrane 7 was installed improperly and analytical parameters were higher.Membranes 6 & 8 met criteria.

Proper sterilization of the system to maintain and ensure the effectiveness in relation to heterotrophic bacteria removal.

RO Water Treatment ‐ Advantages

Mobile systems with small footprintSimple, cost‐effective and flexible systemProven technologyMinimal to no chemicals usageNegligible environmental impacts, less waste for disposalProduces usable water source

R. Bjustrom, National Research Council-IRAP

Dr. R. Saint-Fort, Pegasus Environmental Services Inc.

B. Corbet, Access Labs

Questions?

Brent Grisdale403.968.2600 Cellbrent@infinitywater.ca Email

Appendix Summary of Field Parameters and QA/QC for Water Samples Analysis____________________________________________________________________________________________Parameters Methods QA/QC____________________________________________________________________________________________pH Orion Ag/AgCl glass probe As specified by manufacturerEC Tracer PockeTester As specified by manufacturerTDS Tracer PockeTester As specified by manufacturerNO3-N Cadmium reduction Accuracy check as specified in procedures

manual for Hach DR/2010SO4-2 Turbidimetric Accuracy check as specified in procedures

manual for Hach DR/2010Cu Bicinchoninate Accuracy check as specified in procedures

manual for Hach DR/2010Ba Turbidimetric Accuracy check as specified in procedures

manual for Hach DR/2010Fe Ferrozine Accuracy check as specified in procedures

manual for Hach DR/2010Cr+6 1, 5-Diphenylcarbohydrazide Accuracy check as specified in procedures

manual for Hach DR/2010*HPC-Total Count Millipore sampler Accuracy check as specified by manufacturerColi Count Millipore sampler Accuracy check as specified by manufacturer Water Temperature Orion Star™ 4-Star Meter Accuracy check as specified by manufacturer_____________________________________________________________________________________________*Heterotrophic Plate Count