Chemical characterization of scaling and removal processes was performed in real time via Raman spectroscopy a bench-scale reverse osmosis (RO) system. A custom RO cross-flow cell integrated with microscope objective, allowing for analysis localized membrane scale removal. Permeate flux also measured to provide real-time metric comparison. commercial flat sheet, thin-film composite (TFC RO) sca...

Cross-flow ultrafiltration of macromolecular solutions in a module with micro-channels is expected to have the advantages of fast diffusion from the membrane surface and a high ratio of membrane surface area to feed liquid volume. In addition, high shear stress will reduce the degree of fouling of the membrane. Though such kinds of ultrafiltration modules are expected to be used for separation ...

Photocatalytic membrane was successfully prepared using an efficiently high surface area TiO2 catalyst, dispersed into polyacrylonitrile matrix. The catalyst was directly synthesized using titanium triisopropanolamine as a precursor. The membranes were characterized using FT-IR, TGA, SEM and their photocatalytic performance tested, viz. stability, permeate flux and photocatalytic degradation of...

Nanofiltration (NF) is a high-pressure membrane filtration process increasingly applied in drinking water treatment and water reuse processes. NF typically rejects divalent salts, organic matter, and micropollutants. However, the efficiency of NF is adversely affected by membrane biofouling, during which microorganisms adhere to the membrane and proliferate to create a biofilm. Here we show tha...

A mathematical model using classical cake-filtration theory and the surface-renewal concept is formulated for describing cross-flow microfiltration under dynamic and steady-state conditions. The model can predict the permeate flux and cake buildup in the filter. The three basic parameters of the model are the membrane resistance, specific cake resistance and rate of surface renewal. The model i...

Ultrafiltration (UF) fouling has been attributed to concentration polarization, gel layer formation as well as outer and inner membrane pore clogging. It is believed that mass of humic materials either retained on membrane surface or associated with membrane inner pore surface is the primary cause for permeate flux decline and filtration resistance build-up in water supply industries. While bio...

Among the food industries, the dairy industry is considered to be the most polluting one because of the large volume of wastewater generated and its high organic load. In this study, an aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) was used for the treatment of wastewater from a large dairy industry and two hydraulic retention times (HRT), 6 and 8 hours, were evaluated. For both HRTs removal efficiencies o...

In the present study, the production of low-salt water from salty water by nanofiltration as well as membrane fouling was investigated. Furthermore, a new method was proposed and tested experimentally for creating the backpulse in order to minimization of fouling and increase of the filtration efficiency. In the proposed method, the permeate was used instead of gas for creating the...

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) system based on a dead-end immersed hollow fiber membrane and filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae were used for treatment of baker’s yeast wastewater. The fungus was adapted to the wastewater in the bioreactor for two weeks before starting the continuous process. Average organic loading rate of 4.2 kg COD/m3.d was entered the bioreactor. MBR system was able to redu...

This study is the first attempt to investigate the effect of total hardness and ionic strength on coagulation performance and the floc characteristics of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). Membrane fouling under different total hardness and ionic strength conditions was also evaluated during a coagulation-ultrafiltration (C-UF) hybrid process. Coagulation experiments were performed with two simula...