Characterization and performance of a novel nanomaterial-based membrane

• Main Author: Chew, Jonathan Hong Jie
• Other Authors: Darren Sun Delai
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153588
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Despite the application of nanomaterial-based membranes used in Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems has been consistently studied, the challenges regarding the practical application have yet to be addressed. Assessment of nanomaterial-based membranes’ stability, performance, and lifespan in long-term MBR operation is crucial in accelerating the practical application of nanomaterial-based membranes used in MBRs. This study aims to showcase the long-term performance of a novel TiO2 nanomaterial-based membrane compared with commercially available membranes conducted over 140 days in a lab-scaled immersed MBR (iMBR). The Ti-PVDF membrane when compared to commercially available showed better retention of contact angle, lower rates of transmembrane pressure increase and lower frequency for chemical cleaning. In addition, the observation of cake filtration data and membrane characterization methods was conducted and cross referenced to the long-term performance, developing a process of accurately identifying better performing membranes in MBR without requiring long-term MBR studies which consumes a large amount of time and money. These observations have shown the cake filtration data and membrane characterization methods match the long-term performance, which proves the usage of cake filtration data can be used to identify the better performing membrane in the context of MBRs.