A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling

The efficiency of membrane-based separations is limited by various fouling phenomena, which necessitates a mechanistic understanding in order to improve such processes. This study proposes a network-based approach, in which the membrane is discretized and each particle is individually monitored, to...

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Main Authors: Han, Qi, Li, Weiyi, Trinh, Thien An, Liu, Xin, Chew, Jia Wei
Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2017
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/85550
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/43784
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-855502020-03-07T11:35:27Z A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling Han, Qi Li, Weiyi Trinh, Thien An Liu, Xin Chew, Jia Wei School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate School (IGS) Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute Singapore Membrane Technology Centre Membrane fouling Network modeling The efficiency of membrane-based separations is limited by various fouling phenomena, which necessitates a mechanistic understanding in order to improve such processes. This study proposes a network-based approach, in which the membrane is discretized and each particle is individually monitored, to explore the underlying fouling mechanisms leading to pore blockage and cake growth during a membrane filtration process. In particular, the network-based approach provides more spatial resolution than the continuum approach, thereby gives a more in-depth insight into membrane fouling. The network model developed involves the construction of a two-dimensional (2D) network of pores to represent the membrane, a series of probabilistic criteria to describe the fate of each individual particle, and finally a protocol for evaluating the fouling during either a constant flux or constant TMP (transmembrane pressure) filtration. Three fouling parameters can be obtained to characterize the fouling behavior, namely, the probabilistic factor for deposition in the dead zone (β), the initial cake resistance (Rc0), and the specific cake resistance with respect to cake thickness (R′c), by best-fitting the experimental flux-decline data to the network model. The capability of the network model to account for the topological and stochastic aspects of a fouling process provides for a more mechanistic understanding of the complex interactions between the fluid flow, membrane, and foulant particles vis-à-vis a model based on the continuum assumption. Although limited fouling cases were examined in the current study, it is expected that the network model developed here can be readily applied to study more complex phenomena involved in a membrane filtration process (e.g., shear-induced diffusion), and the associated insights would be significantly enhanced when coupled with more advanced fouling characterization techniques (e.g., Optical Coherence Tomography). MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) EDB (Economic Devt. Board, S’pore) 2017-09-22T04:41:19Z 2019-12-06T16:05:50Z 2017-09-22T04:41:19Z 2019-12-06T16:05:50Z 2017 Journal Article Han, Q., Li, W., Trinh, T. A., Liu, X., & Chew, J. W. (2017). A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling. Journal of Membrane Science, 528, 112-125. 0376-7388 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/85550 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/43784 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.01.026 en Journal of Membrane Science © 2017 Elsevier
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
country Singapore
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic Membrane fouling
Network modeling
spellingShingle Membrane fouling
Network modeling
Han, Qi
Li, Weiyi
Trinh, Thien An
Liu, Xin
Chew, Jia Wei
A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
description The efficiency of membrane-based separations is limited by various fouling phenomena, which necessitates a mechanistic understanding in order to improve such processes. This study proposes a network-based approach, in which the membrane is discretized and each particle is individually monitored, to explore the underlying fouling mechanisms leading to pore blockage and cake growth during a membrane filtration process. In particular, the network-based approach provides more spatial resolution than the continuum approach, thereby gives a more in-depth insight into membrane fouling. The network model developed involves the construction of a two-dimensional (2D) network of pores to represent the membrane, a series of probabilistic criteria to describe the fate of each individual particle, and finally a protocol for evaluating the fouling during either a constant flux or constant TMP (transmembrane pressure) filtration. Three fouling parameters can be obtained to characterize the fouling behavior, namely, the probabilistic factor for deposition in the dead zone (β), the initial cake resistance (Rc0), and the specific cake resistance with respect to cake thickness (R′c), by best-fitting the experimental flux-decline data to the network model. The capability of the network model to account for the topological and stochastic aspects of a fouling process provides for a more mechanistic understanding of the complex interactions between the fluid flow, membrane, and foulant particles vis-à-vis a model based on the continuum assumption. Although limited fouling cases were examined in the current study, it is expected that the network model developed here can be readily applied to study more complex phenomena involved in a membrane filtration process (e.g., shear-induced diffusion), and the associated insights would be significantly enhanced when coupled with more advanced fouling characterization techniques (e.g., Optical Coherence Tomography).
author2 School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
author_facet School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Han, Qi
Li, Weiyi
Trinh, Thien An
Liu, Xin
Chew, Jia Wei
format Article
author Han, Qi
Li, Weiyi
Trinh, Thien An
Liu, Xin
Chew, Jia Wei
author_sort Han, Qi
title A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
title_short A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
title_full A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
title_fullStr A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
title_full_unstemmed A network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
title_sort network-based approach to interpreting pore blockage and cake filtration during membrane fouling
publishDate 2017
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/85550
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/43784
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