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Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

ISSN 2095-2201

ISSN 2095-221X(Online)

CN 10-1013/X

Postal Subscription Code 80-973

2018 Impact Factor: 3.883

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.    2015, Vol. 9 Issue (1) : 73-83    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-014-0692-7
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Fouling mechanisms in the early stage of an enhanced coagulation-ultrafiltration process
Haiqing CHANG1,2,Baicang LIU2,*(),Wanshen LUO3,Guibai LI1
1. State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
2. College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610207, China
3. Southwest Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute of China, Chengdu 610081, China
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Abstract

We investigated the fouling performances of ultrafiltration (UF) membrane for treating in-line coagulated water in an enhanced coagulation-UF hybrid process. Then we analyzed the fouling mechanisms in the early stage of UF using mathematical models and microscopy observation methods. Finally, we discussed the impact of aeration on membrane fouling in this paper. The results showed that a two-stage of trans-membrane pressure (TMP) profile during the operation of enhanced coagulation-UF membrane was observed, and the relationship between permeability and operation time fitted well with a logarithmic curve. Membrane pores blocking and cake filtration were confirmed as main membrane fouling mechanisms using the mathematical models. The two stages of membrane fouling mechanisms were further deduced, namely, the membrane pore narrowing followed by the formation of cake layer. Membrane autopsy analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the membrane surface sampled from different filtration cycles also confirmed the mechanisms of pores blocking and cake filtration. Moreover, according to the variations of the permeability and membrane fouling resistance, aeration was able to mitigate and control the membrane fouling to a certain extent, but the optimization of aeration conditions still needs to be studied.

Keywords coagulation-UF      trans-membrane pressure (TMP)      permeability      membrane fouling resistance      scanning electron microscopy (SEM)     
Corresponding Author(s): Baicang LIU   
Online First Date: 11 April 2014    Issue Date: 31 December 2014
 Cite this article:   
Haiqing CHANG,Baicang LIU,Wanshen LUO, et al. Fouling mechanisms in the early stage of an enhanced coagulation-ultrafiltration process[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2015, 9(1): 73-83.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-014-0692-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2015/V9/I1/73
Fig.1  Schematic diagram of experimental set-up
Fig.2  Performances of fouling and permeability of UF membrane: (a) TMP development of UF with elapsed time; (b) permeability of the UF membrane (normalized to 20°C)
Fig.3  Application of pore blocking model to the filtration data of the UF membrane: (a) standard blocking, (b) cake filtration, (c) complete pore blocking, and (d) intermediate blocking
Fig.4  Calculation of coefficient Ks and Kc in (a) the pore narrowing model and (b) the cake filtration model
Fig.5  Changes of fouling resistances with elapsed time
Fig.6  SEM images of the surfaces (a), (b), (c), (d) and cross-sections (e), (f) of new and fouled membranes: (a), (e) new membrane; (b), (f) cycle 4; (c) cycle 20; (d) cycle 53
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