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Harvesting of microalgae Coelastrella sp. FI69 using pore former induced TiO 2 incorporated PES mixed matrix membranes
Author(s) -
Yogarathinam Lukka Thuyavan,
Gangasalam Arthanareeswaran,
Ismail Ahmad Fauzi,
Parthasarathy Prakash
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.5495
Subject(s) - membrane , chemical engineering , ultrafiltration (renal) , fouling , filtration (mathematics) , materials science , polyethylenimine , biofouling , contact angle , polymer , membrane fouling , chemistry , chromatography , polymer chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , engineering , transfection , statistics , mathematics , gene
BACKGROUND Extracellular polymeric substances and microalgae stimulate membrane fouling during harvesting. The objective of the study was to compare the effect of pore formers on TiO 2 embedded polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) to harvest Coelastrella sp. FI69. The study experimented with hydrophilic additive (polyethylene glycol), polyelectrolyte additive (polyethylenimine), inorganic additive (zinc chloride) and charged polymer (sulfonated polyetherether ketone (SPEEK)) as pore formers. RESULTS It was found that SPEEK/TiO 2 combination enhanced the hydrophilic property of the PES membrane surface. Also, contact angle value (55.22°) was decreased by 1.38 times that of a neat PES (76.63°) membrane. Morphology studies indicated that the TiO 2 particles dispersed well in the PES membrane matrix along with pore formers. The existence of super hydrophilic TiO 2 supported the restriction of microalgae cell attachment on the membrane surface. The filtration of alginic acid sodium solution analysis showed that PES/SPEEK/TiO 2 and PES/PEG/TiO 2 membranes support higher flux with minimal fouling percentage. Microalgae filtration studies indicated that synergistic effect of both SPEEK and TiO 2 on PES membrane exhibited higher water recovery percentage of 96% and equilibrium flux of 66 L m ‐2 h ‐1 . CONCLUSION Fouling propensity is significantly reduced in modified membranes. Future research on scale‐up of membranes for further microalgae dewatering applications is recommended. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry