Efficient fouling control using outer-selective hollow fiber thin-film composite membranes for osmotic membrane bioreactor applications

Abstract

This paper investigates the efficiency of fouling mitigation methods using a novel outer selective hollow fiber thin-film composite forward osmosis (OSHF TFC FO) membrane for osmosis membrane bioreactor (OMBR) system treating municipal wastewater. Two home-made membrane modules having similar transport properties were used. Two operation regimes with three different fouling mitigation strategies were utilized to test the easiness of membrane for fouling cleaning. These two membrane modules demonstrated high performance with high initial water flux of 14.4 LMH and 14.1 LMH and slow increase rate of mixed liquor's salinity in the bioreactor using 30 g/L NaCl as draw solution. OMBR system showed high removals of total organic carbon and NH4+-N (> 98%). High fouling cleaning efficiency was achieved using OSHF TFC FO membrane with different fouling control methods. These results showed that this membrane is suitable for OMBR applications due to its high performance and its simplicity for fouling mitigation.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-modified polyamide thin-film composite membranes for forward osmosis processes

“…FO membranes have higher fouling reversibility than the pressure-driven RO process, and most FO foulants can generally be removed by physical cleaning requiring only limited chemical cleaning frequency [20][21][22]. However, membrane characteristics play a significant role in the process performance and the economics of the FO technology in addition to the other factors, such as draw solution type and regeneration method [11].…”

Influence of graphene oxide lateral size on the properties and performances of forward osmosis membrane

“…resource recovery [5], wastewater treatment [6], brine or seawater dilution [7,8], osmotic membrane bioreactors [9], concentration of aqueous products like fruit juice [10] and dairy whey [11]. The difference in osmotic potential between the draw solution (DS) and feed solution (FS) mainly drives the water through the semi-permeable membrane in FO processes without the need for hydraulic pressure [12].…”

Removal of Organic Micro-Pollutants by Conventional Membrane Bioreactors and High-Retention Membrane Bioreactors

“…Compared to inner selective hollow fiber FO membranes outer selective hollow fiber membranes are more promising in terms of higher sustained flux and less fouling propensity. However, both of those types of FO hollow fiber membrane reports are scarce and scope exists to scale -up and commercialize them [114].…”