Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Electrodialysis Process for Produced Water Treatment and Purification is aligned with Canada’s commitment to improving access to fresh water in Alberta and across Canada. The project also aligns with the Hydrogen Strategy of Canada. This project seeks to advance electrodialysis technology (ED) for the removal of dissolved solids and salts. ED is an electro-membrane separation process commonly used to desalinate brackish, seawater, or a water source with a high concentration of dissolved solids. The Centre for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions (CERCUTS) at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, working in collaboration with Arrowhead Abandonments (Arrowhead), plans to develop a novel process that transforms wastewater to produce clean, fresh water using new generation ED technology. This proposed research project aims to design, build, and test a process skid incorporating a pretreatment system to remove solids and excess organics from produced/wastewater, and an ED system to remove salts and dissolved solids while potentially producing hydrogen as a byproduct. The project scope includes 1) designing and building a pilot-scale water pretreatment skid to integrate it with an ED water desalination system and a possible hydrogen collection system, 2) the operation and troubleshooting of the newly upgraded pilot system, and 3) the collection of samples and data to assess the performance of the process. Project results are expected to set a foundation for a scalable process, equipment specification parameters and operation conditions for the technology to be incorporated at Arrowhead’s sites. The project outcomes will assess the technology’s performance and support accelerated implementation, which will in turn reduce environmental impacts. The project will also integrate this advanced technology within the Indigenous communities where Arrowhead operates. Committed to interdisciplinary and work integrated learning, throughout this work CERCUTS and Arrowhead will mentor two trainees and will support the professional development of two early career researchers while in pursuit of advancing clean, sustainable advanced technologies to treat wastewater in Canada.