No abstract

A high‐permeability, charged nanofiltration membrane was successfully operated for organics removal under conditions of higher‐than‐normal recovery and flux rate. A membrane filtration pilot plant was operated for one year to evaluate the removal of natural organic matter and disinfection by‐product precursors from a highly colored groundwater in Orange County, Calif. Two nanofiltration (NF) membranes—a traditional softening membrane and a high‐permeability, charged membrane—were selected for pilot‐scale testing based on bench‐scale tests of eight NF and ultrafiltration membranes. The high‐permeability NF membrane demonstrated superior organics removal at very high recovery and flux. It also allowed most inorganic constituents to pass through. The concentrate of low total dissolved solids reduced inorganic fouling and made concentrate reuse possible. The article also presents preliminary design criteria and a cost opinion for full‐scale treatment facilities.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Bioconversion of renewable lignocellulosic biomass to biofuel and value-added products is globally gaining significant importance. Lignocellulosic wastes are the most promising feedstock considering its great availability and low cost. Biomass conversion process involves mainly two steps: hydrolysis of cellulose in the lignocellulosic biomass to produce reducing sugars and fermentation of the sugars to ethanol and other bioproducts. However, sugars necessary for fermentation are trapped inside the recalcitrant structure of the lignocellulose. Hence, pretreatment of lignocellulosic wastes is always necessary to alter and/or remove the surrounding matrix of lignin and hemicellulose in order to improve the hydrolysis of cellulose. These pretreatments cause physical and/or chemical changes in the plant biomass in order to achieve this result. Each pretreatment has a specific effect on the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin fraction. Thus, the pretreatment methods and conditions should be chosen according to the process configuration selected for the subsequent hydrolysis steps. In general, pretreatment methods can be classified into four categories, including physical, physicochemical, chemical, and biological pretreatment. This chapter addresses different pretreatment technologies envisaging enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation for cellulosic ethanol production and other bioproducts. It primarily covers the structure of lignocellulosic wastes; the characteristics of different pretreatment methods; enzymatic hydrolysis; fermentation and bioproducts; and future research challenges and trends.

No abstract

No abstract