Influence of hydrophobic and electrostatic membrane surface properties on biofouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor under different filtration modes

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of membrane surface properties on membrane biofouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor treating synthetic wastewater, by employing qualitative membrane surface examination techniques and biofilm quantification. The investigation was carried out on three different types of fouled membrane samples obtained using different filtration methods. Lipid phosphate concentration, which represents viable biomass, was employed as a direct measure of biofouling. Contact angle and zeta potential measurements of clean and fouled ultrafiltration and hollow fibre membranes were conducted. Zeta potentials of membrane samples were measured at various electrolyte pHs. The surface energy of membrane samples was calculated and reported from the data obtained from contact angle of measurements. The outcomes from this study can be used as the basis of a technique to examine the potential of biofouling in membrane processes.

Keywords:

• Submerged membrane bioreactor
• Membrane biofouling
• Zeta potential
• Contact angle
• Phospholipids analysis

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant (15IFIP-B088091-02) from the Industrial Facilities & Infrastructure Research Program funded by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Korean government. The authors also wish to thankfully acknowledge the support from the Korean Research Foundation and the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology as the host institution for Youngpil Chun’s Visiting Fellow appointment to conduct this research.

Notes

Presented at the 8th International Desalination Workshop (IDW) 2015, November 18–21, 2015, Jeju Island, Korea