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Iron oxide adsorption and UF to remove NOM and control fouling
Author(s) -
Chang Yujung,
Benjamin Mark M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1996.tb06663.x
Subject(s) - ultrafiltration (renal) , membrane , adsorption , fouling , membrane fouling , chemical engineering , chemistry , iron oxide , oxide , sorption , chromatography , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Addition of iron oxide particles to a UF system can significantly increase NOM removal efficiency, slowing membrane fouling. This study applied a novel single‐fiber membrane module to study fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes by natural organic matter (NOM) molecules, and used a combined iron oxide–UF process to reduce that fouling. Addition of iron oxide particles to a UF system can significantly increase NOM removal efficiency, because NOM molecules that would otherwise pass through the membrane sorb to the oxides and are retained. Furthermore, despite the fact that iron oxide particles cannot selectively adsorb foulant molecules, their presence in the system can reduce the membrane fouling dramatically. This effect is mediated through two processes: a decrease in the NOM concentration in the circulation loop because of sorption and the formation of iron oxide cake layer deposits on the membrane surface. In such a system, the condensed layer of NOM forms on top of the cake, protecting the underlying membrane surface.