Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane fouling is one of the main challenges that membrane manufactures, the scientific community and industry professionals have to deal with. The consequences of this inevitable phenomenon have a negative effect on the performance of the desalination system. Predicting fouling in RO systems is key to evaluating the long-term operating conditions and costs. Much research...

Biofouling“ is referred to as the unwanted deposition and growth of biofilms. This phenomenon can occur in an extremely wide range of opportunities ranging from colonization of medical devices, production of ultrapure, drinking and process water, fouling of ship hulls, pipelines and reservoirs. It seriously damages the efficacy of membrane processes by forming a secondary membrane which, at a c...

Membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBR) is caused by cake formation on the surface, mainly attributed to suspended solids, and also by surface adsorption connected with pore blocking, attributed to soluble components of activated sludge. In this study, long-term experiments were carried out in sub-critical conditions with frequent backwashing, and the nature of fouling was investigated. ...

The presence of calcium and humic substances or natural organic matter (NOM) in surface waters can cause severe fouling of nanofiltration (NF) membranes. Conditions of fouling were studied using a stainless steel stirred cell of volume 185 mL and a membrane area of 21.2*10-4m2 at a transmembrane pressure of 5 bar. Deposition of organic matter was determined by mass balance in feed and concentra...

There has been an increase in commercial-scale kelp cultivation in Europe, with fouling of cultivated kelp fronds presenting a major challenge to the growth and development of the industry. The presence of epibionts decreases productivity and impacts the commercial value of the crop. Several abiotic and biotic factors may influence the occurrence and degree of fouling of wild and cultivated fro...

Prevention and removal of fouling is often the most energy intensive process in Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), responsible for 40% to 50% of the total specific energy consumed in submerged MBRs. In the past decade, methods were developed to quantify and qualify fouling, aiming to support optimization in MBR operation. Therefore, there is a need for an evaluation of the lessons learned and how to ...

This brief commentary reviews the concept of nest fouling, and advances the view that a different approach to giving expert testimony (that of impartially assisting the court) will largely negate nest-fouling issues.

Cereal Chem. 83(3):311–314 Dry-grind corn processing facilities produce ethanol, carbon dioxide, and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). To produce DDGS, drygrind corn processors concentrate thin stillage in multieffect evaporators. Concentration of thin stillage uses large amounts of energy, and efficient operation is important for long-term economic stability of the industry. Little...

A thermal fouling study was undertaken using three sour Canadian crude oils. Experiments were carried out in a recirculation fouling loop, equipped with an annular (HTRI) electrically heated probe. Fluids at pressures of about 10001340 kPa under a nitrogen atmosphere were re-circulated at a velocity of 0.75 m/s for periods of 48 hours, and the decline in heat transfer coefficient followed under...