Monday, November 9, 2026
Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 AM
M1: Advances in Boiler Water Chemistry
IWC Rep: Colleen Scholl, HDR, Inc., Whitewater, WI
Session Chair: Donna Murphy, DuPont, Wilmington, DE
Discussion Leader: Utsav Shashvatt, Xylem, Houston, TX
This session brings together three papers focused on improving reliability and chemistry control in steam and power generation systems. Collectively, they examine key mechanisms that influence corrosion, contamination monitoring, and deposit management in boiler feedwater circuits. Topics include the evaluation of polymer dispersants and filming amines at the onset of iron nanoparticle formation, operational and design factors affecting oxygen removal in boiler feedwater systems supplying economizers, and a comparative assessment of degassing technologies for accurate degassed cation conductivity measurement in combined-cycle power plants. These papers highlight practical and analytical approaches for reducing corrosion risk, improving monitoring accuracy, and supporting more effective water treatment strategies.
IWC 26-01: Factors affecting proper oxygen removal and its effect in Boiler feedwater that supplies economizers
Kevin Brown, Kurita Canada, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada; Steve Owen, Kurita Canada, Soney Plain, Alberta, Canada
Effective removal of dissolved oxygen from boiler feedwater is a critical requirement for the reliable and corrosion‑free operation of steam boiler systems. This paper examines the operational and mechanical parameters that influence oxygen removal performance and deaeration efficiency in feedwater systems supplying economizers. Operational factors assessed include inlet feedwater flow regulation, steam availability to the deaerator, storage tank level control, and feedwater flow variability associated with three‑element drum level control strategies.
Key aspects of deaerator design are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the influence of secondary contact chamber configuration. The performance implications of modifying conventional spray‑head designs to combined spray‑and‑tray arrangements are evaluated.
Economizers are especially susceptible to oxygen‑related corrosion, as they represent the first externally heated components exposed to inadequately deaerated feedwater. Internal inspection of economizers is seldom performed and typically necessitates tube removal. This paper identifies common locations of oxygen corrosion within economizers and discusses the hydraulic and operational limitations that make it difficult to achieve sufficient flow velocities for effective economizer cleaning.
Discusser:
IWC 26-02: Evaluating Iron Dispersion Efficiency of Polymers and Filming Amines at Onset of Iron Nanoparticle Formation
Robert Jeffers, ChemTreat, Charlottesville, VA; Dale Stuart, ChemTreat, Glen Allen, Virginia
The effective management of iron dispersion in industrial boiler water systems is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and preventing corrosion-related failures. The deposition of iron oxide particles on boiler system surfaces (low flow areas and heat transfer tubes) can lead to loss of flow, overheating, under deposit corrosion, and tube failures.The proper evaluation of the effectiveness of dispersant polymers and filming amines is necessary in order to provide the optimum protection for operating boiler systems. Most current evaluation methods involve the use of synthetic boiler water containing controlled concentrations of iron oxide contaminants (typically iron salts). Polymer dispersants are then introduced to the system and their dispersion efficiency is monitored over time. While these methods are effective, they only measure the ability of the dispersant to control dispersion of the iron oxide salts that are already formed in solution. In operating boiler systems, the dispersants need to be effective at the onset of iron oxide particle formation thus inhibiting further particle growth. Therefore, there is a need to be able to evaluate the dispersants efficiency at dispersing particulate iron (vs iron salts) at the point of nucleation. This study presents the development of a novel test method designed to evaluate the iron dispersion efficiencies of various polymer dispersants and filming amines at the onset of iron oxide nanoparticle formation. The efficiencies are evaluated using a combination of particle size analysis, turbidity, and iron concentration. The method aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the performance of these molecules under these novel conditions resulting in a significant advancement in the evaluation of iron dispersion capabilities in boiler water systems. The findings offer valuable insights into the selection and application of polymers and filming amines, contributing to improved corrosion control and operational efficiency in industrial settings.
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IWC 26-03: Comparative Evaluation of Membrane Contactor, Gas Sparger, and Reboiler Technologies for Degassed Cation Conductivity Measurement in Power Plant Cycle Chemistry
Mason Webster, Solutions Sample Systems, Midvale, UT
Accurate degassed cation conductivity (DGCC) is critical for detecting air ingress, condenser tube leaks, and ionic contamination in ultra-pure boiler and feedwater systems while minimizing interference from dissolved CO₂.This study presents a side-by-side field comparison of three commercial degassing technologies—hollow-fiber membrane contactor, inert gas sparger, and thermal reboiler—installed at PacifiCorp’s Rocky Mountain Power Lakeside Unit 2, a 2×1 combined-cycle gas turbine plant operating under AVT(O) chemistry. Identical M800 conductivity sensors with Unicond probes simultaneously measured specific conductivity (SC), cation conductivity (CC), and DGCC from a common demineralized water sample stream. The systems were operated for periods up to one week with minimal on-site intervention. Grab samples confirmed very low sulfate and chloride levels, isolating observed conductivity differences primarily to CO₂ removal efficiency. All three technologies effectively reduced DGCC by stripping dissolved gases. The reboiler consistently achieved the lowest mean DGCC values, functioning as a “mini-deaerator” and removing the highest fraction of entrained gases. When operating correctly, the membrane contactor and sparger produced comparable results, closely tracking the reboiler. Statistical analysis of data collected December 17–25 confirmed significant differences in mean conductivity values between each degassing method and the upstream cation conductivity. The reboiler yielded the lowest DGCC, while the membrane and sparger performed similarly. Response times were equivalent across all methods. These results highlight practical trade-offs in energy use, maintenance, and reliability for power plant water chemistry monitoring. While the reboiler remains the performance benchmark, membrane contactor and sparger technologies offer simpler, lower-energy alternatives suitable for many installations.
Discusser: Scott Burgess, Air Products
IWC 26-M1-R: Advances in Boiler Water Chemistry
Dale Stuart, Chemtreat, Glen Allen, VA
In beverage and canning plants, high alkalinity in boiler feedwater produces excess carbonic acid in condensate, often requiring neutralizing amine concentrations above FDA limits. As a result, amines are underapplied or omitted, leading to corrosion from carbonic acid. Frequent system shutdowns allow air ingress, raising carbonic acid and oxygen levels and further accelerating pitting and general corrosion. This causes frequent pipe failures, hazardous conditions, and unplanned downtimes. Additionally, iron deposits from condensate form scale on boiler tubes, increasing cleaning frequency. Applying olyelpropanediamine (OLDA), a film-forming amine, creates a persistent passive layer on condensate lines that significantly decreases the corrosion rate and iron returning to the boiler. Iron in the condensate line at a beverage bottling plant dropped 91% from 0.9 to 0.08ppm and significantly slowed the number of leaks and pipe failures that occurred in the condensate line. At a canning plant, the condensate iron would average 0.07ppm with frequent condensate pipe failures prior to treatment with OLDA. After OLDA treatment for a few years, the condensate iron dropped 71.4% to 0.02ppm and the customer experienced fewer condensate pipe failures. Additionally, the feedwater iron dropped similarly and the boiler stack temperatures under similar loads. Prior to OLDA treatment, the stack temperature would decrease fractionally throughout the year because iron residual coming from the condensate line would form scale in the evaporator tube and decrease the amount of heat transferred from the boiler water to the boiler tube.
M2: Turn that brine upside down!
IWC Rep: Lyndsey Pence, ZwitterCo, Inc., Los Osos, CA
Session Chair: Phil Benson, Geosyntec, Washington, DC
Discussion Leader: Vijay Ahire, IDE Technologies, Carlsbad, CA
Join us for the IWC’s first ever full session on brine valorization. This session focuses on turning previously unwanted brine streams into valuable resources. With an overview paper on the state of the technology and two more papers on lithium and critical mineral recovery, this session will provide the audience a better understanding of the emerging topic of brine valorization. Learn how to turn that frown upside down and create a valuable resource from brine!
IWC 26-04: Overview and Methods for Brine Valorization
John Korpiel, P.E., Xylem Inc., Pittsburgh, PA; Jane Kucera, UCC Environmental, Plainfield, IL; Ed Greenwood, P.Eng., BCEE, WSP, Cambridge, ON, Canada
Brine valorization describes the approach of recovering valuable resources from a desalination brine stream for beneficial reuse or sale. In addition to increasing freshwater recovery, it enables the recovery of salts, minerals, metals, acids, bases, nutrients, oxidants, and/or energy. This paper will discuss the benefits of brine valorization, along with its associated challenges, limitations, potential issues, and key considerations for implementation. Relevant unit processes and integrated process flow sheets will also be discussed.
Discusser:
IWC 26-05: Produced Water Brine Valorization: Osmotically Assisted Reverse Osmosis in Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Processes
Richard Stover, Ph.D., GP Water, Waltham, MA; Nathan Haralson, Fathom Water, Kirkland, WA
Produced water formations across the United States contain sufficient lithium to warrant consideration as a domestic resource of the mineral. Direct lithium extraction (DLE) can efficiently recover lithium from these sources, generating a lithium-rich eluate. However, this eluate must be concentrated prior to downstream conversion into battery-grade chemicals. Osmotically assisted reverse osmosis (OARO) offers a potentially lower-energy alternative to conventional evaporation for this critical concentration step.
This presentation evaluates the application of OARO to lithium-rich DLE eluate using advanced process modeling. Multiple system configurations are analyzed to quantify trade-offs among capital cost, operating cost, system footprint, and achievable lithium concentration factors.
Results indicate that optimized OARO systems can achieve greater than 90% water recovery, producing a concentrated lithium stream suitable for battery-grade chemical production and a high-quality permeate suitable for beneficial reuse. The findings provide practical guidance on system design choices and operational considerations for integrating OARO into broader brine valorization flowsheets.
Discusser: Sriram Ananthanarayan, Hazen and Sawyer, Tucson, AZ
IWC 26-06: Brine Valorization Through Critical Mineral Recovery at Zero Liquid Discharge Facilities
Joseph Woodley, UCC Environmental, Waukegan, IL; Brenden Prins-McKinney, Duranium, Alameda, CA; Berkley Noble, Duranium, Alameda, CA
Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems at coal-fired power plants produce concentrated brine byproducts that are typically encapsulated and landfilled at significant cost to the facility owner. With the December 2034 compliance deadline for ZLD in coal-fired power generation, the number of facilities producing these brines is expected to grow substantially over the coming decade. This paper examines an alternative approach: valorizing ZLD brine byproducts through downstream recovery of magnesium and other critical minerals, converting a waste liability into a domestic production asset.
The approach evaluated pairs an established ZLD pretreatment and membrane concentration process with a carbochlorination-based metals production pathway to recover magnesium metal from the magnesium chloride fraction of concentrated FGD brines. Bench-scale testing was conducted on brine samples from multiple coal-fired power plants across the southeastern United States, representing a range of fuel types, pretreatment configurations, and concentration ratios from 10x to 50x. Brine characterization confirmed magnesium chloride within acceptable ranges for valorization with calcium chloride as the primary co-constituent and minimal residual contaminants following upstream metals removal.
Preliminary economic analysis indicates that on-site mineral recovery can eliminate brine disposal and landfill costs for a representative 750 GPM ZLD facility, while producing 600 to 1,250 metric tons per year of magnesium metal. Co-location at the generating facility offers additional cost advantages, including access to low-cost electricity and other necessary feedstocks from existing processes. The results suggest that brine valorization through critical mineral recovery represents a technically viable and economically attractive pathway for ZLD facilities, with the potential to simultaneously address industrial wastewater compliance obligations and domestic critical mineral supply chain vulnerabilities.
Discusser: Bob Craig, P.E., Kiewit Engineering Group, Lenexa, KS
IWC 26-M2-R: From Waste to Wealth (Part 1): A Circular Economy Approach to Turning Monovalent Seawater Desalination Waste Brine Ions into Industrial Feedstock
Avijit Dey, Aquatech, Canonsburg, PA USA
Seawater desalination, while critical for drought-proof freshwater sources, generates significant volume of waste brine that needs careful management to avoid harming marine ecosystems, making its valorization for chemical industry feedstock a sustainable strategy promoting a circular model. Brine is a concentrated source of sodium chloride, bromine, potassium chloride from monovalent rich brine stream while magnesium-based minerals from polyvalent rich brine stream, which can be extracted for industrial use. The topic presented here (Part 1) focuses on valorization efforts for commodities sourced from monovalent rich (MVR) brine stream, while the corresponding byproducts from polyvalent rich (PVR) brine stream will be discussed in Part 2 of the paper at IWC 2027. This approach reduces disposal, lowers environmental impact, and creates a circular economy. Instead of relying solely on import of mined rock salt or solar salts for chlor-alkali and synthetic soda ash facilities utilizing salt as their feedstock, the current article discusses valorization technologies of waste brine from seawater desalination to provide an alternative pathway for such chemical industries to enhance their operational sustainability as solar salt production facilities in India and Australia is increasingly thwarted by extreme weather events; primarily unseasonal rainfall, and cyclones during the regular harvesting season.
M3: Industrial Water Reuse: The Ripple Effect
IWC Rep: Elke Peirtsegaele, Toray Membranes, Poway, CA
Session Chair: Swamy Margan, Sterling MultiChem, Houston, TX
Discussion Leader: Nik Mehta, American Water Chemicals, Los Angeles, CA
The session, “Industrial Water Reuse: The Ripple Effect,” addresses advanced developments in industrial closed-loop water systems, emphasizing performance under extreme operating conditions and chemically complex matrices. The three selected papers extend established technologies—such as membrane processes and photovoltaic integration—to demonstrate practical, scalable approaches for water reuse and conservation.
Collectively, these studies highlight key considerations in system design, process integration, and performance optimization, bridging current practices with next-generation solutions. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the development of resilient, high efficiency industrial water systems, supporting sustainable operations and water stewardship in demanding industrial environments.
IWC 26-07: Minimizing Data Center Freshwater Footprint with an Industrial Water Reclaim System
John Rydzewski, PE, Carollo Engineers, Portland, OR; Jackson Malace, Carollo Engineers, Portland, OR
There are approximately 3,800 data centers in the United States alone, many using water-based cooling to dissipate heat generated by the technology equipment and supporting infrastructure. Of these, approximately 20 percent of the data centers in the US are located in water-stressed regions. This paper will explain a novel approach used to treat and recycle nearly 90 percent of a data center’s industrial wastewater discharge to reduce freshwater withdrawals and increase data center resilience.
Discusser: Douglas Kellogg, ResinTech, Camden, NJ
IWC 26-08: Wastewater Reuse Efforts to Enhance Circular Water Economy in Oil & Gas Industry
Mohammad Badruzzaman, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Eastern Province Saudi Arabia; Jasem R. Al-Anazi, Saudi Aramco, C-W965B, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Municipal reclaimed water is a sustainable source of makeup water for cooling towers and can contribute to enhance circular water economy. However, successful application of reclaimed water in a dry desert climate with high temperature requires a critical understanding of water efficiency, biohazards, equipment reliability, and economics. This study investigated the applicability of municipal reclaimed water as an alternative to groundwater for an industrial cooling system at an oil and gas facility in Saudi Arabia.
Discusser: Ashton Needham, Chevron Products Company, Pascagoula, MS
IWC 26-09: Concentrating on the Loop
Shannon Brown, HDR, Omaha, NE USA
For coal fired power generating units, management of dissolved solids is critical for maintaining chemistry and performance during closed loop operations. Water is recycled and reused, often linking all plant water and wastewater processes from boiler water to cooling tower water, to wet flue gas desulphurization scrubber chemistry. An overview of water and wastewater characteristics for such operations, with focus on TDS management, utilizing a conceptual facility as a basis is provided.
Discusser: Dallas Torgerson, WesTech Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT
IWC 26-M3-R: An In-Situ Recycling Solution for Photovoltaic (PV) Cell Production Wastewater Using Fouling-Resistant Ultrafiltration and Nanofiltration Membranes
Jinwen Wang, PolyCera Membranes, Inglewood, CA USA; Jeffrey Koehler, PolyCera Membranes, Inglewood, CA; Jinabo Wen, PolyCera (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., China; Bo Yan, Jiangsu Bangtec Environmental Sci-Tech Co. Ltd, China; Huiyu Zhao, Jiangsu Bangtec Environmental Sci-Tech Co. Ltd, China
Photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing generates significant wastewater. A typical 10-GW factory discharges over 3.5 million tons annually (approximately 925,000 U.S. gallons per day); with over 600 GW capacity in China alone, total wastewater exceeds 0.21 billion tons per year. This substantial burden on water resources has undermined the perceived sustainability of the PV industry.
Previous recycling attempts using ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have largely failed due to severe fouling. The wastewater contains silica, fluoride, fluorosilicate, calcium, and ferric compounds, creating a complex mixture that readily blocks membranes.
This work demonstrates a feasible in-situ recycling strategy that treats wastewater at the collection point rather than final discharge. The three-stage process comprises: an organic metal UF membrane with pores finer than 20 nm to maximize colloid removal, followed by two stages of nanofiltration membranes with anti-fouling top layers that tolerate silica and fluoride-related fouling. Permeate achieves conductivity below 20 µS/cm and fluoride under 1 mg/L, meeting quality standards equivalent to single-stage RO permeate.
The system was implemented at a PV factory in Yangzhou, China, recycling 6,000 tons per day (approximately 1.6 million U.S. gallons per day)—about 50% of total wastewater discharge. Operating for over one year, the project has recycled more than 1.5 million tons (roughly 400 million U.S. gallons) of water at a cost below the local municipal water fee. The manufacturer saves an estimated $600,000 annually by reducing both municipal water purchases and wastewater treatment expenses.
This in-situ membrane recycling solution addresses a critical sustainability challenge in the rapidly expanding solar industry while delivering compelling economic benefits.
M4: The Quest for Ultrapure Water in a Dirty World
IWC Rep: Dennis McBride, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO
Session Chair: Mike Preston, Kiewit, Lenexa, KS
Discussion Leader: Larry Gottlieb, Resintech, Inc., Camden, NJ
Making ultrapure water is challenging. Maintaining ultrapure water in a demanding process environment is also challenging. Evolving technology options and combination of technologies to make and maintain ultrapure water are more in focus in the United States with the recent trend to on-shore manufacturing that requires this water purity and to power these facilities. Our session includes studies of various technology approaches using membranes, ion exchange resin, and disinfection techniques in unique process settings. Our authors provide views from semiconductor fabrication applications to nuclear power production with many of the principles discussed applicable to other industries. Join us for a deeper look into the world of ultrapure water.
IWC 26-10: Advancing Ultrapure Water Quality for Semiconductors with Medium Pressure UV
Ytzhak Rozenberg, Atlantium, Har Tuv A, Industrial Zone Israel; Amichai Felder, Atlantium; Assaf Lowenthal, Atlantium
As semiconductor chips shrink, demand for ultrapure water (UPW) rises, increasing the need for sustainable UPW treatment. A proprietary ultraviolet (UV) solution, compact and easy to maintain, delivers chemical-free disinfection and oxidation to UPW production with greater efficiencies than other UV technologies. This technology reduces water and energy use at facilities, protects reverse osmosis membranes, controls biofouling, lowers total organic carbon to non-detect, and supports water reclamation. Results from installations and third-party validations will be presented.
Discusser: David Donkin, UCC Environmental, Waukegan, IL
IWC 26-11: Contaminant Control in Ultrapure Water Production with Ion Exchange Resins
Zhendong Liu, LANXESS Corporation, Birmingham, NJ USA; Hans-Juergen Wedemeyer, LANXESS Deutschland GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Firuza Mir, LANXESS Corporation, Birmingham, NJ
The production of ultrapure water (UPW) for semiconductor manufacturing requires extremely stringent control of trace contaminants, as water quality directly impacts device yield and reliability. Key impurity metrics include total organic carbon (TOC), particle precursors, and trace metals at sub-ppb, ppt, or even ppq levels. Ion exchange (IX) resins are widely employed in UPW systems to remove dissolved ionic species such as sodium, chloride, boron, and silica; however, they can also act as sources of secondary contamination, thereby limiting the achievable water purity. Resin-derived contaminants primarily originate from oxidative and chemical degradation of the polymer matrix and functional groups. For strong acid cation exchange resins, degradation can result in the release of organic species such as polystyrene sulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, sulfobenzoic acid, and sulfobenzoate esters. In the case of strong base anion exchange resins, leachables typically include methanol, trimethylamine, and nitrosamine compounds. The extent of such degradation is strongly influenced by operating conditions, including temperature, oxidant concentration (e.g., dissolved oxygen, hydrogen peroxide), and the presence of catalytic species such as transition metals. To mitigate these effects, both upstream manufacturing controls and downstream handling practices are critical. Manufacturing methods, clean resin synthesis, along with advanced post-treatment processes such as extensive cleaning and high-purity rinsing, can significantly reduce “primary” contamination. In addition, packaging and storage conditions play a key role in minimizing “secondary” contamination by limiting exposure to atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide. In this study, several commercial mixed-bed IX resins were evaluated using the SEMI C93 dynamic rinse test protocol to quantify TOC release, particle precursor generation, and non-volatile residue (NVR). Results indicate that a specially engineered resin exhibits substantially lower contamination levels across all measured parameters compared to conventional resins. Furthermore, static acid extraction testing using hydrochloric acid (HCl) demonstrates that the same resin contains significantly reduced trace metal impurities relative to baseline materials. Furthermore, the implementation of high-barrier aluminum foil laminate packaging was shown to effectively suppress ingress of oxygen and carbon dioxide, thereby reducing oxidative degradation during storage. These results highlight that achieving ultra-low contaminant levels in UPW systems requires an integrated strategy combining advanced resin design, ultra-clean manufacturing, optimized post-treatment, and controlled packaging and storage conditions.
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IWC 26-12: Starting Over – Lessons Learned in Demineralize Water Design for Nuclear Power
Jillian Flanagan, Stantec, Halifax, NS Canada; Jenn Hoevenaars, Bruce Power, Tiverton, Ontario, Canada
A nuclear facility planning a water treatment plant replacement to achieve modern nuclear water chemistry standards used an operational experience (OPEX) study to benchmark existing and comparable high-purity systems. The goal of the study was to facilitate design decisions for the new treatment plant. The study recommends UF, double-pass RO, CEDI, UV, and two-stage mixed bed polishing treatment train, supported by reliability, maintainability, constructability and operability lessons learned.
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