Pre-chlorination effects on fouling during microfiltration of secondary municipal wastewater effluent

Chlorination-induced changes in the physicochemical characteristics of effluent organic matter (EfOM) and their role fouling hollow fiber polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membranes during wastewater reclamation was mechanistically investigated. Pre-chlorination strongly influenced pressure rise constant flux forward filtration as well hydraulically irreversible by backwashing with low doses exacerbating it high alleviating it. Dose-dependent trends originated from alterations EfOM size polarity consequently its interactions membrane based on whether applied chlorine concentrations were above or below a threshold value. Variations macroscopic phenomena such sorption tendency, streaming potential, initial upon exposure to pre-chlorinated consistent favorable adhesion energies calculated using extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory. Progressive even though XDLVO theory predicted unfavorable EfOM-EfOM cohesive under all chlorination conditions demonstrated that hydrodynamics (permeation drag) dominated later stages fouling. raw largely deposited surface resulting compressible cake filtration. In contrast, pre-chlorination fragmented leading intrapore (standard blocking) at beginning transitioning (intermediate blocking).