>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Over the past 5 years, South Africa has been experiencing a severe drought. This has caused industrial and agricultural processes, to compete for a limited supply of water. Since the economy relies mostly on agricultural activities, water consumption by industrial processes is taking its toll. One of these processes is the introduction of wet flue gas desulphurization (FGD) treatment at Eskom coal fired power stations. This dissertation explores the possibility of using membrane technology as a means of water recovery after the coal combustion flue gas has been treated with wet FGD. A lab-scale permeance testing system was specially built and modified to have complete thermal control of the environment inside the system. The permeance testing system produced a gas, similar to that of a wet FGD treated flue gas, which was then tested. A tubular lab-scale membrane module was designed and produced for the permeance testing system. The permeance figures of both Nitrogen gas and water vapour were determined for the membrane used in module production. These figures coincided with figures provided by the supplier, which warranted successful permeance testing. After success of the lab-scale testing, the data was used to design and develop a pilot-scale membrane module. This module was designed to meet pre-determined requirements as set forth by the project team. Producing lab-scale membrane modules helped identify and address possible problems in pilot-scale module design. This lead to the successful design and construction of a pilot-scale membrane module that could be used to recover the water that is needed to run the wet FGD process.

Seawater flue gas desulphurization (SWFGD) is a reliable and efficient process to re-move sulfur dioxide in flue gases in power plants and industries. The characteristics and applications of seawater treatment plant of three SWFGD process are described firstly. A literatual survey looking at different air injection techniques in shallow water basin applications are investigated, also including best practice from similar applications in other types of industries. A number of promising alternatives is then selected and compared with today’s system. The relevant experimental data of these systems are collected. A rate-based model is developed to simulate and optimize the aeration process in seawater treatment plant after its reliability is verified by the experimental data.

Seawater flue gas desulphurization (SWFGD) is a reliable and efficient process to re-move sulfur dioxide in flue gases in power plants and industries. The characteristics and applications of seawater treatment plant of three SWFGD process are described firstly. A literatual survey looking at different air injection techniques in shallow water basin applications are investigated, also including best practice from similar applica-tions in other types of industries. A number of promising alternatives is then selected and compared with today’s system. The relevant experimental data of these systems are collected. A rate-based model is developed to simulate and optimize the aeration process in seawater treatment plant after its reliability is verified by the experimental data.

This study evaluated the effect of several heavy metals that are present in flue gases on the algae, focusing on the growth and accumulation of lipids in the algae that can be converted to biodiesel. Concentrations for the heavy metals were calculated based on literature and assumptions. Metals were tested individually first at the highest concentrations that might be present (reference concentrations). The metals and their reference concentrations were: arsenic at 1.56 mg/L, cadmium at 0.3 mg/L, chromium at 2.6 mg/L, cobalt at 0.32 mg/L, copper at 2.62 mg/L, lead at 1.09 mg/L, nickel at 5.08 mg/L, mercury at 0.2 mg/L, selenium at 0.2 mg/L, and zinc at 8.8 mg/L. At these concentrations, most of the metals had a negative effect on the growth and lipid content of the algae. All of the metals were then tested at lower concentrations. At 1/20 the reference concentrations, the metals enhanced growth as well as lipid accumulation in the algae. At higher concentrations there was a negative effect.

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