Seawater desalination plants influents and effluents analysis in Libya Original Research Article

The purpose of this study is to analyse seawater desalination plants influents and effluents. Most of desalination plants in Libya use the Mediterranean Sea as the major source for producing drinking and industrial waters. The discharge of the concentrates from desalination plants to the sea may carry different pollutants, which can render the water harmful for human and marine life. These pollutants include halo volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and other materials. The Libyan Authority of water and environment has established limits on pollutants, which may be dangerous to the environment and may be discharged from desalination plants. All seawater desalination plants discharge the concentrate back to the sea, for this reason simultaneous analysis of raw seawater that feeding the desalination plants and concentrates that discharging from different desalination plants were carried out. Different seawater desalination plants (RO and MSF) with different capacity were selected. These plants use different pretreatment methods and different types of chemicals. The plants are operating by different government organization and different companies. The preliminary obtained results were evaluated against the limits by Libyan Authority of water and environment and by the limits of WHO. Using gas chromatography, and X-RF spectrometer, which can detect large amount of elements, carried out Inorganic and organic analyses. The preliminary results of some desalination plants effluents showed that no pollution is recognized.