Comparative analysis for fouling characteristics of river water, secondary effluent, and humic acid solution in ceramic membrane ultrafiltration

ABSTRACT

Ceramic membrane ultrafiltration experiments were performed with 7-channel tubular membrane (molecular weight cutoff = 300 kD) at a constant transmembrane pressure and crossflow rate under recirculation mode. In the experiments, the fouling characteristics of river water (RW, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) = 3.4 mg/L) were compared with humic acid solution (HA1, DOC = 3.7 mg/L). Also, the fouling behaviors of secondary effluent (SE, DOC = 7.9 mg/L) were compared with HA2 (DOC = 8.5 mg/L). Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix, modified Hermia’s model, and resistance-in-series model were used to analyze the fouling characteristics. Results demonstrated that RW and SE could cause ceramic membrane fouling more rapidly due to their hydrophilic organic compositions in comparison with hydrophobic HA.

KEYWORDS:

• Ceramic membrane ultrafiltration
• fouling
• humic acid solution
• river water
• secondary effluent

Funding

This study is supported by Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) as “Advanced Technology Program for Environmental Industry” (Grant no. 2014000150019).

Additional information

Funding

This study is supported by Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) as “Advanced Technology Program for Environmental Industry” (Grant no. 2014000150019).