Research on Enhancing the Performance of Pre-Treatment Systems for Saline–Alkaline Agricultural Drainage in Southern Xinjiang

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Abstract
Freshwater scarcity in southern Xinjiang has intensified the need for effective utilization of saline–alkaline agricultural drainage. This study evaluates pre-treatment technologies for reverse osmosis (RO) systems to improve water quality and mitigate membrane fouling. Three processes were tested: coagulation–sedimentation–media filtration (G1), micro-flocculation–media filtration (G2), and micro-flocculation (G3) combined with ultrafiltration and varying polyaluminum chloride (PAC) dosages (0–15 mg·L−1). Results show that G1 and G2 significantly outperform G3 in removing turbidity, organic matter, and inorganic ions, achieving SDI15 < 5 and turbidity < 0.3 NTU, meeting RO feedwater standards. Optimal performance occurred at the 7.5–10 mg·L−1 coagulant dosage range, effectively controlling flux decline and fouling. The integrated pre-treatment–ultrafiltration system provides a robust technical framework for saline–alkaline water desalination, offering practical guidance for sustainable water resource utilization in arid agricultural regions.
Funding Information
  • Key Laboratory Open Project of the Corps (20230WSL-01)
  • Financial and Technological Plan Project of the Corps (2023AB034)
  • 2024 Annual Ministry-Province Cooperation Project (2024ZRBSHZ112)

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