Ultrasound for Membrane Fouling Control in Wastewater Treatment and Protein Purification Downstream Processing Applications

Abstract

Membrane fouling is one of the major issues encountered in membrane filtration including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Membrane fouling can occur due to the reversible and irreversible deposition of particles, colloids, macromolecules, salts, and other types of elements. As a consequence, fouling causes a significant decrease in the permeate flux due to plugging of membrane pores, and adsorption of fouling material on the membrane's surface and/or in the pore walls. A lot of research efforts have been directed towards fouling remediation techniques or membrane cleaning alternatives. Although most of these methods are relatively functional, they have drawbacks and limitations. Among these methods, the use of ultrasound has been shown to be effective in enhancing mass transfer, cleaning, disinfection, and controlling fouling. In membrane filtration processes, ultrasound can help accelerating the permeate flux towards the membrane and decreasing the concentration of solutes accumulated in the membrane pores and on the membrane surfaces. Ultrasonic fouling control does not require chemical cleaning and can maintain a high permeate flux throughout the filtration process. In addition, wastewater contaminants can be degraded by ultrasound. Therefore, ultrasound creates unique physicochemical conditions, which can be used as an effective tool for membrane fouling control. In this chapter, ultrasound radiation as a unique method to modify physical and chemical properties of a complex fluid with applications in wastewater treatment and protein purification process is highlighted. At first, ultrasonic parameters and how their ability to enhance the delivery of fluid flow to the membrane surface and affect the physical and chemical properties of foulants are discussed. Furthermore, various ultrasonic methods, including continuous and intermittent waves, and its influences on membrane fouling, permeate flux, membrane cleaning and flux recovery are reviewed. The main role of wave streaming as a driving force for fluid acceleration and antifouling control, and the impact of ultrasound-generated bubble cavitation on preventing and removing fouling deposits are described. The challenges of current ultrasonic techniques, which need to be addressed so as to facilitate their widespread and successful implementation, are explored. This chapter examines how the periodic compression/ rarefaction cycles of ultrasound can influence mass transfer and membrane fouling. Also, the current knowledge and approaches to advance ultrasonic technology as an Advances in Membrane Technologies 2 effective method for membrane fouling remediation in wastewater treatment and protein purification downstream processing are presented in this chapter.

Enhancing Rubber Industry Wastewater Treatment through an Integrated AnMBR and A/O MBR System: Performance, Membrane Fouling Analysis, and Microbial Community Evolution

“…By Phase 4, despite the further increased organic loading rate of 8.11 ± 2.03 kg COD/m 3 /day, the TMP increment was marginal, reaching 73 ± 4 kPa, and the flux saw a modest reduction to 21 ± 4 LMH. This phase’s data suggest that the fouling layer’s growth could be reaching a plateau, potentially due to the limits of cake-layer compression or a balance between fouling and cleaning forces within the system [ 48 ]. In Phase 4, the anaerobic membrane sustained an organic loading of 7.39 ± 0.95 kg COD/m 3 /day, with the TMP marginally rising to 76 ± 5 kPa and flux stabilizing at 20 ± 3 LMH.…”

Surface Modification of Polyethylene Terephthalate Track-Etched Membranes by 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7- Dodecafluoroheptyl Acrylate for Application in Water Desalination by Direct Contact Membrane Distillation

“…Several desalination methods are being researched to improve efficiency and cost [3]. Promising techniques include reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, thermal distillation, nanofiltration, and membrane distillation (MD) [4,5]. Among all these technologies, MD has a lot of advantages, including operation at low temperatures and Disclaimer/Publisher's Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s).…”

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In this work, the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membranes (PET TeMs) with pore sizes of 670-1310 nm was hydrophobized with 2,2, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7, by photoinitiated graft polymerization. A enuated total reflection FTIR spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), and contact angle measurement were used to identify and characterize the TeMs.

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Surface Modification of Polyethylene Terephthalate Track-Etched Membranes by 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-Dodecafluoroheptyl Acrylate for Application in Water Desalination by Direct Contact Membrane Distillation

“…Several desalination methods are being researched to improve efficiency and cost [3]. Promising techniques include reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, thermal distillation, nanofiltration, and membrane distillation (MD) [4,5]. Among all these technologies, MD has a lot of advantages, including operation at low temperatures and hydrostatic pressures, high levels of water recovery, high salt rejection rates (especially for samples with a salinity between 70 and 300 g salt per kg solution), and less sensitivity to membrane fouling [6].…”

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In this work, the surfaces of poly (ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membranes (PET TeMs) with pore sizes of 670-1310 nm were hydrophobized with 2,2, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7, by photoinitiated graft polymerization. A enuated total reflection FTIR spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to an energy-dispersive Xray spectrometer (EDX), and contact angle measurements were used to identify and characterize the TeMs.

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