EFFECT OF USING AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON THE PERFORMANCE OF REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES IN BRACKISH WATER

Reverse osmosis membranes have long been one of the most popular and effective methods for desalination, due to their ease of operation and high efficiency in salt separation. However, scaling remains one of the most significant challenges associated with these membranes, as it can reduce flow rates and cause membrane damage. Therefore, over the decades, the electromagnetic field has been widely used in water treatment processes to address such issues. This study involved two experiments: the first was conducted without the application of an electromagnetic field before the membrane, and the second with an electromagnetic field applied before the membrane. Both experiments were conducted in the research laboratory of the Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University.The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of an electromagnetic field generated through a coil of electrically conductive wire, powered by a frequency generator circuit operating at 150 kHz. The results showed an increase in salt rejection in the freshwater outlet, a decrease in sodium and chloride ions in both the freshwater and concentrate streams (as determined by elemental analysis), and a reduction in the percentage of freshwater recovery.