Ultrafitration surface modification for fouling mitigation with applications to water reuse
Authors
Xia, Lichao
ORCID
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Other Contributors
Kilduff, James
Nyman, Marianne
Gorby, Yuri
Bae, Chulsung
Nyman, Marianne
Gorby, Yuri
Bae, Chulsung
Issue Date
2019-08
Keywords
Environmental engineering
Degree
PhD
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
Full Citation
Abstract
To identify membrane surface chemistries that mitigate fouling, we employed two surface modification methods, UV-induced graft polymerization and coating by physical adsorption. Graft polymerization of 2-(Methacryloyloxy)-ethyl-dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl ammonium hydroxide) (BET(SO3)-) and 2-(Methacryloyloxy) ethyl trimethylammonium chloride (N(CH3)3+) (N(CH¬3)3+) monomers were selected using a high throughput (96-well plates) screening technique from a group of 24 candidates. The performance of BET(SO3)- and N(CH¬3)3+ monomers were verified in bench-scale tests using a dead-end filtration system to filter municipal wastewater treated via MFC, and three model foulants, serum albumin (BSA), sodium alginate (SA), Elliot humic acid (EHA). Performance assessment included measurement of foulant rejection and membrane flux recovery. Two monomer concentrations were employed, 0.2 and 0.6 M. Membranes modified with 0.6 M N(CH¬3)3+ performed better than the as-received (AR) membrane, and the other modified membranes. The effects of mixing were evaluated; mixing significantly decreased membrane fouling and energy consumption during filtration of MFC effluent, which we attribute to enhance the solute back transport. The modified membrane exhibited better flux recovery than the AR membrane; modification did not have a significant impact on solute rejection. Downstream UF treatment of MFC effluent significantly reduced scaling minerals (calcium and magnesium), and also significantly reduced COD.
Description
August 2019
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
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