This study evaluated the possibility of an electrochemical process as a pre-treatment of a seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant. Initially, during electrolysis of seawater the formation trend of free chlorine was observed and then inactivation rate of Bacillus sp. isolate obtained from natural seawater was measured to evaluate the potential for reducing biofouling of SWRO membrane. As a result, the Bacillus sp. spores present in seawater were completely inactivated at approx. 210 s of electrolysis time, showing 2.4-time higher inactivation rate compared to chlorination alone. This study also investigated the formation trend of perchlorate (ClO 4 −) during electrolysis of seawater and its rejection by microfiltration and the SWRO membrane. After 5 min of electrolysis, 27 μg/L of ClO 4 − was produced. It was also found that 20% and 98% rejection efficiencies of ClO 4 − were observed through microfiltration and SWRO filtration. The optimum condition of the electrochemical process as a pre-treatment in the seawater desalination plant was determined to be ~4 min of electrolysis time and 110 mA/cm 2 of current density under the tested natural seawater condition.
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