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Reversible and irreversible fouling of ultrafiltration ceramic membranes by model solutions
Author(s) -
Munla Leila,
Peldszus Sigrid,
Huck Peter M.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.5942/jawwa.2012.104.0137
Subject(s) - fouling , ultrafiltration (renal) , membrane , membrane fouling , humic acid , filtration (mathematics) , ceramic membrane , ceramic , chemical engineering , context (archaeology) , contact angle , chemistry , chromatography , water treatment , materials science , environmental engineering , environmental science , organic chemistry , geology , biochemistry , engineering , mathematics , paleontology , fertilizer , statistics
Although ceramic membranes are of increasing interest for drinking water treatment, there is little information available regarding their fouling behavior in this context. The objective of the current investigation was to understand the fouling behavior of ceramic membranes on a more fundamental level with foulants that have been identified as problematic for polymeric membranes in drinking water treatment. All solutions showed cake filtration except humic acid and the combination of humic acid and bovine serum albumin (BSA), which showed intermediate and complete blocking filtration, respectively. Silica played a substantial role in increasing the rates of flux decline. BSA was the only foulant that significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the membrane, suggesting that the contact angle of the fouled membrane is not an indication of fouling severity or reversibility. Synergistic fouling effects were observed when the model solutions were combined. These results will be helpful for the application of ceramic membranes in drinking water treatment.