(2ah) Monitoring Boron Concentration in Qatar Seawater and Its Impact on Desalination Processes

Monitoring Boron Concentration in Qatar Seawater and Its Impact on Desalination Processes

As Qatar heavily relies on desalination for freshwater production, the presence of boron in seawater (SW) has become a significant concern due to its potential adverse effects on the desalination process and water quality. This study aims to monitor boron concentration in Qatar water resource and investigate its influence on various desalination processes. Furthermore, it highlights different methods for boron removal and explores the consequences associated with elevated levels of boron in seawater.

The research employs a comprehensive monitoring program to assess the boron levels in water resources. The SW samples were collected from 81 locations across Qatar and these locations covered most of the seawater areas with total of 120 seawater samples at three depth levels 1, 4 and 10 meters, respectively. In addition, at different distances, 1 kms from seashore border of Qatar up to 6 kms. The concentration of boron is analyzed using advanced analytical techniques including inductively coupled plasma-Optical Emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The study provides insights into the spatial and temporal variations of boron concentration in Qatar seawater, enabling a better understanding of its distribution and potential sources. The typical seawater contains an average of 5.1mg/L boron varying from 2.85 to 7.15 mg/L.

The high concentration of boron in Qatar's seawater poses challenges for desalination processes, including membrane fouling, reduced efficiency, increased energy consumption, compliance with boron limits, and environmental concerns related to brine discharge. Managing and mitigating the impact of boron on desalination is crucial for ensuring sustainable freshwater supply in Qatar. It was reported in literature that, the Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination technique has proven effective in extracting approximately 60% of the boron content from water.

The expenses involved in removing boron from seawater encompass capital costs for equipment installation, operational costs for energy and chemicals, maintenance, and replacement costs, as well as any associated expenses for disposal or regeneration processes. Moreover, the cost is affected by the concentration of boron in the seawater. In our study, we found that the west coastline of Qatar exhibits higher concentrations of boron, necessitating more expensive treatment processes.

Keywords: boron, seawater monitoring, desalination processes, natural hazard, water quality.