A new approach to the characterization of reverse osmosis membrane by dynamic hysteresis

Physical aspects of dynamic hysteresis for characterizing reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have been investigated. Dynamic hysteresis was used as a parameter of showing physical surface characteristics of RO membranes. Automated microbalance was utilized to determine dynamic hysteresis based on the Wilhelmy plate method. Dynamic hysteresis determined with non-polar liquid was related to physical surface characteristics including surface roughness and heterogeneity determined by atomic force microscopy imaging and analysis. A remarkable correlation between dynamic hysteresis and surface heterogeneity was obtained when nonpolar liquid was used during the measurements. Dynamic hysteresis increased as the surface heterogeneity of RO membrane increased.