Effect of adsorptive fouling on membrane performance: Case study with a pulp mill effluent

Abstract

The compatibility of a wide range of membrane materials with a pulp mill effluent was evaluated with respect to adsorptive fouling. Membranes were initially evaluated by their pure water permeability and separation characteristics with a polyethylene glycol test solute. These membrane coupons were contacted with a pulp mill effluent sample at 50°C in the absence of a transmembrane pressure for 3 h and then recharacterized. The change in the separation and permeation was interpreted as changes in the average pore size and the ratio of the number of pores to the effective pore length (n/AxA) of the membrane. A decreasing pore size indicated the formation of an adsorbed fouling layer. An increased n/AxA ratio suggested that adsorption occurred on the membrane surface rather than in the pores.

Adsorptive fouling of organic solutes simulating sweetwater solutions on ultrafiltration membranes

“…Therefore, as the larger pores become sufficiently clogged, then the solutes deposit onto the surface and form cake, which results in a higher RFR. Such phenomena are in agreement with previously reported results [6,23,24,25]. Moreover, the adsorption of the small solutes in the pores would reduce the pore size and increase the water resistance to pass through the membrane [26].…”

“…where l a and r i are adsorbed layer thickness (nm) and initial pore size (nm), whereas PWP f and PWP i are pure-water permeability of the fouled and clean membranes (L/m 2 h -1 bar -1 ), respectively [23]. Table 2 reports the percentage of pore reduction (%) as well as the thickness of fouling layer (l a ) for PES and PVDF membranes after adsorptive fouling of TG and TG−FA mixtures.…”

Membrane performance with a pulp mill effluent: Relative contributions of fouling mechanisms

“…It was concluded that surface adsorption was likely for lower MWCO membranes and that the adsorbed layer was controlling membrane performance. Adsorption occurred via a pore restriction mechanism with higher MWCO membranes [21 ].…”

Treatment of combined bleaching effluent by membrane filtration technology for system closure in paper industry

“…The reported studies on the applications of membrane filtration in the pulp and paper industry have mainly been focused on pulp mill effluent, pulp bleaching and coating color effluents [2][3][4]. Also some studies on membrane fouling with the pulp mill effluents have been done [5,6]. Rune Glemenius [7] observed that the total solids in the bleach effluent are normally around 0.7% and the liquor can be concentrated up to 25-50 times by UF.…”