Reducing anionic and hydrophobic biofoulants with nonwoven filter media having high flux rate and low pressure drop

Abstract

Biofouling of membranes is well known to be caused by submicron or molecular weight contaminants, that include organic acids and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). Organic foulants significantly impede operation of many membrane systems in many ways, productivity downtime for cleaning, productivity loss from decreased permeability, and higher energy demand required to overcome decreased permeability and the use of chemicals that can damage both the membranes and the environment. Design of the filtration system can vary greatly based on the make-up of the contaminant load, water type, and the volume to be processed. This paper examines several different studies to show the benefits of using Disruptor® as a prefilter to minimize biofouling by removing specific organic compounds which are known to be linked to initial membrane biofouling. It also explores additional removal mechanisms that separate this technology from other commercially available electro-adsorptive filters.

Keywords:

• Ahlstrom Disuptor®
• TEP
• Electrostatic interactions
• Hydrophobic interactions

Notes

Presented at the Workshop on Membrane Fouling and Monitoring,21–22 September 2012, Balliol College, University of Oxford, UK