Search

One of the significant parameters to be considered for evaluating the process and economic viability of crosssflow microfiltration (MF) is flux stability. The MF economics are dependent on the flux decay through the membrane caused by membrane fouling. This work aims to evaluate the performance of MF by electro and chemical coagulation as pretreatments. The performance of MF was found to be sensitive to pH of feed solution, coagulant dosing and generation time. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) MF membrane of pore size 0.4 μm was used in this study. Without pretreatment normalised flux declined by 94% after 160 min of MF operation using model wastewater. However with pretreatments, the MF flux was significantly improved. The optimum performance for MF with both electro and chemical coagulation pretreatments occurred at isoelectric point where the highest removal of organic and turbidity was observed. With chemical coagulation under optimum conditions (30 mg/l alum dose and pH 6.5), MF did not experience any flux decline. MF performed better with chemical coagulation compared to electrocoagulation (EC). Also organic matter removal was found to be more for chemical coagulation than for EC.

One of the significant parameters to be considered for evaluating the process and economic viability of crosssflow microfiltration (MF) is flux stability. The MF economics are dependent on the flux decay through the membrane caused by membrane fouling. This work aims to evaluate the performance of MF by electro and chemical coagulation as pretreatments. The performance of MF was found to be sensitive to pH of feed solution, coagulant dosing and generation time. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) MF membrane of pore size 0.4 μm was used in this study. Without pretreatment normalised flux declined by 94% after 160 min of MF operation using model wastewater. However with pretreatments, the MF flux was significantly improved. The optimum performance for MF with both electro and chemical coagulation pretreatments occurred at isoelectric point where the highest removal of organic and turbidity was observed. With chemical coagulation under optimum conditions (30 mg/l alum dose and pH 6.5), MF did not experience any flux decline. MF performed better with chemical coagulation compared to electrocoagulation (EC). Also organic matter removal was found to be more for chemical coagulation than for EC.

In submerged membrane system, membrane fouling is linked to the reversible accumulation of macromolecules and solids on the membrane surface and the irreversible sorption of soluble molecules inside the pores. In the first part of the paper, the fouling was analysed at two different aeration rates through the determination of membrane resistance due to (a) sludging (Rsludging), (b) irreversible biofilm (Rbiofilm) and (c) adsorption of organic (Radsorption). These results confirm the importance of aeration for sludge control in the bundle. In the second part of the paper, irreversible foulant obtained at different aeration rates were characterised. Membrane air flow rate limits adsorption of biopolymers onto or into the membrane surface.

In submerged membrane system, membrane fouling is linked to the reversible accumulation of macromolecules and solids on the membrane surface and the irreversible sorption of soluble molecules inside the pores. In the first part of the paper, the fouling was analysed at two different aeration rates through the determination of membrane resistance due to (a) sludging (Rsludging), (b) irreversible biofilm (Rbiofilm) and (c) adsorption of organic (Radsorption). These results confirm the importance of aeration for sludge control in the bundle. In the second part of the paper, irreversible foulant obtained at different aeration rates were characterised. Membrane air flow rate limits adsorption of biopolymers onto or into the membrane surface.

Although membrane technology has become a reliable and viable alternative for water and wastewater treatment, membrane fouling is a serious challenge. In this case study, we report application of different techniques to extract foulant from the hollow fibre membrane and characterize the foulant into various components of organic, inorganic and different fractions. The organic foulant was subjected to high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) analysis to study the influence of ionic strength on its elution behaviour using NaCl and CaCl2as carrier solutions. It was observed that an increase in ionic strength delayed the elution time of both the organic foulant and the Na-salt of Polysterene sulphone (PSS) with HPSEC. However, no such effect was observed with FlFFF analysis. Such study is significant because the characteristics of the membrane organic foulant are believed to be influenced by the carrier ionic conditions and pH and, therefore their subsequent interaction with the membrane and membrane fouling process. However with FlFFF, whether the influence of carrier ionic strength is limited to certain type of ionic carriers or certain groups of natural organic matter is a scope for further research.

Although membrane technology has become a reliable and viable alternative for water and wastewater treatment, membrane fouling is a serious challenge. In this case study, we report application of different techniques to extract foulant from the hollow fibre membrane and characterize the foulant into various components of organic, inorganic and different fractions. The organic foulant was subjected to high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) analysis to study the influence of ionic strength on its elution behaviour using NaCl and CaCl2as carrier solutions. It was observed that an increase in ionic strength delayed the elution time of both the organic foulant and the Na-salt of Polysterene sulphone (PSS) with HPSEC. However, no such effect was observed with FlFFF analysis. Such study is significant because the characteristics of the membrane organic foulant are believed to be influenced by the carrier ionic conditions and pH and, therefore their subsequent interaction with the membrane and membrane fouling process. However with FlFFF, whether the influence of carrier ionic strength is limited to certain type of ionic carriers or certain groups of natural organic matter is a scope for further research.