Fouling of reverse osmosis membranes by biopolymers in wastewater secondary effluent: Role of membrane surface properties and initial permeate flux

Li, Qilin; Xu, Zhihua; Pinnau, Ingo

doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2006.12.027

Cited by 298 publications

(165 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The functional layer is smooth whilst the supporting layer is rough. In a previous study, Li et al [34] found that smoother membrane surfaces resulted in lower membrane fouling rate in line with the findings in this work. The rough surface may accelerate the accumulation of foulants in the micro recesses which makes the membrane fouling worse [35].…”

Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 92%

Processing municipal wastewaters by forward osmosis using CTA membrane

Zhang

Ning

Wang

et al. 2014

Journal of Membrane Science

104

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Direct sewage filtration by forward osmosis (FO) was investigated with the aim of concentrating organic matters in sewage into a small volume of energy source. The results showed that chemical oxidation demand (COD) in the feed sewage solution was concentrated by more than 300%. Although a gradual decline in membrane flux with filtration time occurred, a flux of 3-7.4 L m -2 h -1 was still produced satisfactorily. The membrane flux decline was caused by both membrane fouling and the decline of osmotic driving force due to the salinity change in both feed solution and draw solution. The membrane fouling analysis indicated that the fouling was mainly attributed to the formation of cake layer on the membrane surface in both membrane orientation, the active layer facing the feed side (AL-FS) and the active layer facing the draw solution side (AL-DS). However, AL-FS outperformed AL-DS in terms of membrane flux and fouling. This study may offer new insight into the development of lowenergy wastewater treatment processes and energy recovery. 2 HighlightsOrganic matters in sewage can be effectively concentrated to small volume by FO.Membrane flux decline is caused by both membrane fouling and the decline of osmotic driving force.Cake layer is the dominant contributor to the membrane fouling.This study offers new insight into the development of low-energy wastewater treatment.

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Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 92%

Processing municipal wastewaters by forward osmosis using CTA membrane

Zhang

Ning

Wang

et al. 2014

Journal of Membrane Science

104

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“…Thus, the combined wastewater-seawater dilution process promises to be a simple and effective water recovery process that might be hindered by membrane fouling. But the resulting fouling layer can be easily washed-off using physical cleaning methods [101,102].…”

Section: Filtration Tests With Complex Feed Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forward Osmosis as a Pre-Treatment Step for Seawater Dilution and Wastewater Reclamation

Motsa¹,

Mamba²

2018

Osmotically Driven Membrane Processes - Approach, Development and Current Status

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This chapter presents the exploration of the combined process of wastewater reclamation and seawater dilution using forward osmosis (FO). Wastewater and seawater are the two most abundant water sources that are free of the hydrological cycle and could serve as an alternative potable water source. Forward osmosis was chosen as the an ideal pre-treatment step to dilute seawater prior to desalination at relatively lower energy demand and low fouling propensity. Membrane fouling behavior was studied and investigated using different feed compositions bearing fractions of effluent organic matter (EfOM). The negative surface charge of all organic foulants was reduced by the adsorption of calcium ions. Filtration of feed streams containing single, simple organic foulants revealed that alginate (polysaccharides) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) resulted in significant loss in process performance as a result of permeate flux reduction.The complex mixture of alginate, BSA and humic acid caused severe loss in membrane performance due to dominant favorable synergistic interactions between foulants and between foulants and membrane surface. The forward osmosis process presents a viable alternative for a simple and effective seawater dilution step using wastewater as the feed solution. Process performance can be improved by selecting a foulant resistant membrane with matching flux.

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“…Changes in the membrane hydrophobicity may result in changes in the membrane performance. For example, it was reported that a more hydrophilic membrane would have a higher water permeability (Akin and Temelli, 2011;Al-Amoudi et al, 2008) and a lower fouling propensity (Li et al, 2007). In addition, Bernstein et al (2011) reported that a decrease in hydrophobicity would lead to a decrease in boron rejection, although the reason for such observation was not provided.…”

Section: Hydrophobocity and Surface Bondingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical cleaning effects on properties and separation efficiency of an RO membrane

Tu¹,

Chivas²,

Nghiem³

2015

Membr. Water Treat.

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This study aims to investigate the impacts of chemical cleaning on the performance of a reverse osmosis membrane. Chemicals used for simulating membrane cleaning include a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), a chelating agent (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA), and two proprietary cleaning formulations namely MC3 and MC11. The impact of sequential exposure to multiple membrane cleaning solutions was also examined. Water permeability and the rejection of boron and sodium were investigated under various water fluxes, temperatures and feedwater pH. Changes in the membrane performance were systematically explained based on the changes in the charge density, hydrophobicity and chemical structure of the membrane surface. The experimental results show that membrane cleaning can significantly alter the hydrophobicity and water permeability of the membrane; however, its impacts on the rejections of boron and sodium are marginal. Although the presence of surfactant or chelating agent may cause decreases in the rejection, solution pH is the key factor responsible for the loss of membrane separation and changes in the surface properties. The impact of solution pH on the water permeability can be reversed by applying a subsequent cleaning with the opposite pH condition. Nevertheless, the impacts of solution pH on boron and sodium rejections are irreversible in most cases. Abstract. This study aims to investigate the impacts of chemical cleaning on the performance of a reverse osmosis membrane. Chemicals used for simulating membrane cleaning include a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), a chelating agent (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA), and two proprietary cleaning formulations namely MC3 and MC11. The impact of sequential exposure to multiple membrane cleaning solutions was also examined. Water permeability and the rejection of boron and sodium were investigated under various water fluxes, temperatures and feedwater pH. Changes in the membrane performance were systematically explained based on the changes in the charge density, hydrophobicity and chemical structure of the membrane surface. The experimental results show that membrane cleaning can significantly alter the hydrophobicity and water permeability of the membrane; however, its impacts on the rejections of boron and sodium are marginal. Although the presence of surfactant or chelating agent may cause decreases in the rejection, solution pH is the key factor responsible for the loss of membrane separation and changes in the surface properties. The impact of solution pH on the water permeability can be reversed by applying a subsequent cleaning with the opposite pH condition. Nevertheless, the impacts of solution pH on boron and sodium rejections are irreversible in most cases.

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Fouling of reverse osmosis membranes by biopolymers in wastewater secondary effluent: Role of membrane surface properties and initial permeate flux

Cited by 298 publications

References 21 publications

Processing municipal wastewaters by forward osmosis using CTA membrane

Processing municipal wastewaters by forward osmosis using CTA membrane

Forward Osmosis as a Pre-Treatment Step for Seawater Dilution and Wastewater Reclamation

Chemical cleaning effects on properties and separation efficiency of an RO membrane

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