Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors
Membrane fouling is a stubborn problem in all membrane filtration processes, in particular membrane bioreactors because it leads to higher operating pressure, more frequent chemical cleaning, shortened membrane life and compromised product water quality.
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Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors
Membrane fouling is a stubborn problem in all membrane filtration processes, in particular membrane bioreactors because it leads to higher operating pressure, more frequent chemical cleaning, shortened membrane life and compromised product water quality. This chapter presents an exhaustive overview of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors. It commences by giving a concise definition of membrane fouling and its diverse implication in the development of membrane bioreactor technology. This chapter highlights the underlying causes of membrane fouling and its effects are also indicated. The types of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors are elucidated in detail. Thereafter, methods used to control or limit membrane fouling are also outlined in this chapter. To sum up, membrane fouling is highly complex physico-chemical problem.
3.1
Membrane Fouling
Generally, membrane fouling is considered as a bottleneck in membrane filtration processes (Huang et al. 2012b). It is inevitable problem in which the retained particles, colloids, macromolecules and salts are undesirably deposited and accumulated on the membrane surface or in the membrane pores (Houari et al. 2010; Meng et al. 2009; Rana and Matsuura 2010; Kochkodan and Hilal 2015). Membrane fouling is a very common hindrance to the advancement of water treatment membrane technologies, including microfiltration (Xiao et al. 2011); ultrafiltration (Bai and Leow 2002a, b; Le-Clech et al. 2006a, b), nanofiltration (Mo et al. 2012; Simon et al. 2013) and osmosis processes (Li et al. 2007; Phuntsho et al. 2012). Therefore, membrane fouling decreases the permeate flux significantly, affects the quantity and quality of products, raises operating costs, and eventually shortens membrane lifespan (Wang et al. 2011a, b; Porcelli and Judd 2010).
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 B. Ladewig and M.N.Z. Al-Shaeli, Fundamentals of Membrane Bioreactors, Springer Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-2014-8_3
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(a)
3 Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors
(b)
Fig. 3.1 Membrane fouling process in membrane bioreactors, via a pore blocking and b cake layer formation. Adapted from Meng et al. (2009)
With respect to MBR, membrane fouling is one of the most stubborn problems, hindering its widespread practical applications and also reduces its performance (Hilal et al. 2005; Huang et al. 2010; Kang et al. 2003; Kimura et al. 2005; Le-Clech et al. 2006a, b; Meng et al. 2009; Zularisam et al. 2006; Miura et al. 2007; Wang et al. 2011a, b). Membrane fouling can be ascribed to both pore clogging and sludge cake deposition which are regarded as the main fouling components as shown schematically in Fig. 3.1 (Hilal et al. 2005; Lee et al. 2001a), whilst other adsorption of solutes on membranes, deposition of particle within the membrane pores and alterations to the cake layer affect membrane fouling via the modification of either or both components (Bai and Leow 2002a, b; Ma et al. 2001a, b; Wiesner et al. 1992; Ahmed 1
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