Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling

Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon (GAC) is well-acknowledged to be effective in mitigating external reversible fouling. However, the effect of fluidized GAC and fiber looseness on the alleviation of irreversible fouling is not known, which motivated the current study...

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Main Authors: Wang, Jingwei, Wu, Bing, Chew, Jia Wei
Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/162016
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-1620162022-09-29T05:30:13Z Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling Wang, Jingwei Wu, Bing Chew, Jia Wei School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute Singapore Membrane Technology Centre Engineering::Environmental engineering Membrane Fouling Hollow Fiber Looseness Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon (GAC) is well-acknowledged to be effective in mitigating external reversible fouling. However, the effect of fluidized GAC and fiber looseness on the alleviation of irreversible fouling is not known, which motivated the current study. Analyses included reversible and irreversible membrane fouling resistance, GAC particle velocities, foulant characteristics, permeate quality and membrane morphology. Results indicate that (i) membrane fouling resistances were significantly reduced by GAC fluidization and fiber looseness, with reversible and irreversible fouling respectively reduced by up to 17 and 35 times; (ii) advantages conferred by fiber looseness was tied to the decreased GAC particle velocities by about 10%, which implies a greater transfer of momentum from the fluidized GAC to the membranes; (iii) GAC scouring reduced 87% of reversible fouling and 48% of irreversible fouling, largely by microbial by-product-like substances but not so much by humic acid-like substances; whereas fiber looseness had a greater impact on the composition of the irreversible foulants; (iv) fluidized GAC particles and fiber looseness were more effective in alleviating the deposition of higher molecular weight organics in reversible fouling; (v) not only was the membrane integrity not compromised by the scouring GAC, but better permeate quality (i.e., 40% lower DOC in the permeate) was achieved; and (vi) roughness of the fouled membrane surface was 63% lower in the presence of GAC fluidization, which further reduced membrane fouling. This study thereby provides valuable insights towards the better design and operation of such fouling mitigation means for wastewater treatment. Economic Development Board (EDB) The Economic Development Board (EDB) is also acknowledged for funding the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC), Nanyang Technological University. 2022-09-29T05:30:13Z 2022-09-29T05:30:13Z 2020 Journal Article Wang, J., Wu, B. & Chew, J. W. (2020). Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling. Separation and Purification Technology, 242, 116764-. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.116764 1383-5866 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/162016 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.116764 2-s2.0-85080025082 242 116764 en Separation and Purification Technology © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic Engineering::Environmental engineering
Membrane Fouling
Hollow Fiber Looseness
spellingShingle Engineering::Environmental engineering
Membrane Fouling
Hollow Fiber Looseness
Wang, Jingwei
Wu, Bing
Chew, Jia Wei
Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
description Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon (GAC) is well-acknowledged to be effective in mitigating external reversible fouling. However, the effect of fluidized GAC and fiber looseness on the alleviation of irreversible fouling is not known, which motivated the current study. Analyses included reversible and irreversible membrane fouling resistance, GAC particle velocities, foulant characteristics, permeate quality and membrane morphology. Results indicate that (i) membrane fouling resistances were significantly reduced by GAC fluidization and fiber looseness, with reversible and irreversible fouling respectively reduced by up to 17 and 35 times; (ii) advantages conferred by fiber looseness was tied to the decreased GAC particle velocities by about 10%, which implies a greater transfer of momentum from the fluidized GAC to the membranes; (iii) GAC scouring reduced 87% of reversible fouling and 48% of irreversible fouling, largely by microbial by-product-like substances but not so much by humic acid-like substances; whereas fiber looseness had a greater impact on the composition of the irreversible foulants; (iv) fluidized GAC particles and fiber looseness were more effective in alleviating the deposition of higher molecular weight organics in reversible fouling; (v) not only was the membrane integrity not compromised by the scouring GAC, but better permeate quality (i.e., 40% lower DOC in the permeate) was achieved; and (vi) roughness of the fouled membrane surface was 63% lower in the presence of GAC fluidization, which further reduced membrane fouling. This study thereby provides valuable insights towards the better design and operation of such fouling mitigation means for wastewater treatment.
author2 School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
author_facet School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Wang, Jingwei
Wu, Bing
Chew, Jia Wei
format Article
author Wang, Jingwei
Wu, Bing
Chew, Jia Wei
author_sort Wang, Jingwei
title Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
title_short Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
title_full Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
title_fullStr Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
title_full_unstemmed Membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
title_sort membrane fouling mitigation by fluidized granular activated carbon: effect of fiber looseness and impact on irreversible fouling
publishDate 2022
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/162016
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