Harvesting microalgal biomass using negatively charged polysulfone patterned membranes: Influence of pattern shapes and mechanism of fouling mitigation

Abstract

 Membrane charge and patterning significantly improve the membrane performance. Critical pressures of all sPSf blend patterned membranes were higher than 2.5 bar. Membrane with wave patterns showed the highest CWP and membrane flux. sPSf blend patterned membranes showed the lowest interaction energy.  A higher velocity and wall shear were found on the pattern apexes.

Membrane Fouling in Algal Separation Processes: A Review of Influencing Factors and Mechanisms

“…Emerging cleaning strategies attempt to reduce the area wherein shear stress is applied (Bamba et al, 2021;Zhao et al, 2021b). This effect has proved to be efficient at controlling fouling, while securing cell integrity and thus limiting the release of irreversible foulants.…”

“…In addition, the incorporation of TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , zeolites, silica, and silver has been found to increase the hydrophilicity of the membrane, thereby enhancing the permeate flux (Hu et al, 2015). However, the significantly higher energy demand and the increase in the cost exerted by these modifications represent a bottleneck for these approaches, and, therefore, developing cost-efficient antifouling membrane materials and geometries with high hydrophilicity and mechanical resistance remains a subject of study (Ladner et al, 2010;Zhang and Fu, 2018;Zhang Y. et al, 2019;Zhao et al, 2021b). To this extent, it is necessary to integrate these aspects into the developments of fouling control technology, while comparative techno-economic and environmental assessments of fouling control strategies should be evaluated to decrease the cost and the environmental impact of the process.…”

Membrane-Based Harvesting Processes for Microalgae and Their Valuable-Related Molecules: A Review

“…Introducing surface negative charge in a wave-patterned membrane was recently reported to be an effective approach to alleviate fouling, exhibiting 100% harvesting efficiency of Desmodesmus sp. with membrane permeances of up to 1000 L/m 2 h bar [ 69 ].…”

“…Higher hydrophilicity and negative charge are properties sought toward the design of anti-fouling membranes, in part, due to the cell surface charge of most microalgae being (slightly) negative [ 36 ]. An increased hydrophilicity and negative charge have been obtained by incorporating sulfonated polysulfone to the membrane [ 69 ]. Low-fouling composite membranes with enhanced superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity properties have been proven to reduce algae deposition on the membrane surface [ 76 ].…”

“…In contrast, the flat membrane exhibited a constant low-flow behavior which may not be high enough to reduce fouling. Reprinted from Zhao et al [ 69 ], Copyright 2021, with permission from Elsevier.…”