Membrane fouling reduction by fluidized granular activated carbon

• Main Author: Guo, Kerin Chun’en
• Other Authors: Liu Yu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68138
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The use of GAC particles to induce mechanical scouring on membrane surface has been identified as a promising method to mitigate membrane fouling. As such, the objective of this study is to understand the hydrodynamics of GAC particles and the relationship between particle behaviour and membrane fouling mitigation in order to further improve the scouring efficiency of GAC fluidization in AFMBRs. In this study, the impact of varying GAC particle diameters (dp), superficial liquid velocities (Ul) and position of membrane on particle behaviour and membrane fouling were investigated. Particle behaviour characteristics include particle velocity, particle concentration and particle momentum. High speed camera and Image J software was used to analyse and characterise particle velocity and concentration while membrane fouling was characterized by the increasing rate of trans-membrane pressure (TMP). The correlation of particle behaviour with membrane fouling shows that particle velocity, particle concentration and particle momentum, all exhibited an inverse relationship with TMP increasing rate (dTMP/dt). Particle momentum had a more pronounced effect on membrane fouling compared to particle velocity and concentration, proposing that momentum transfer of GAC particles to membrane is an important factor or mechanism in mitigating membrane fouling via particle fluidization.