Lead Removal by Reverse Osmosis: Seeking Sustainability in the Operation of Advanced Technologies: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Nowadays, stricter control and rigorous landfill standards are being promoted in industries that produce liquid discharges into the environment. The development of innovative and sustainable technologies to remove lead from water is of great importance in all aspects, with safe recycling practices, especially with high lead concentrations, such as in mining activities. The experiment was conducted at a reverse osmosis (RO) pilot plant, operated at low impact pressures and designed to optimize energy savings without compromising separation efficiency. By reducing energy consumption, the process not only lowers operational costs but also minimizes the environmental impact associated with high energy consumption. The results show that RO operated at low pressures successfully removed 99.75% of lead at a pressure of 10 bar and a flux of 67.44 L/m2·h, demonstrating a practical and sustainable solution for lead removal at pressures of 5, 7.5, and 10 bar, which are considered low pressures since they are below 1.0 MPa. In addition to its high removal efficiency, the process offers significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. Enhancing the efficiency of this technology is crucial, not only to decrease operational costs but also to reduce environmental impact.