Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100499
Title: Fouling reduction in MBR-RO processes : the effect of MBR F/M ratio
Authors: Kitade, Tamotsu
Wu, Bing
Chong, Tzyy Haur
Fane, Anthony Gordon
Uemura, Tadahiro
Issue Date: 2013
Source: Kitade, T., Wu, B., Chong, T. H., Fane, A. G., & Uemura, T. (2013). Fouling reduction in MBR-RO processes: the effect of MBR F/M ratio. Desalination and Water Treatment.
Series/Report no.: Desalination and water treatment
Abstract: This work investigated fouling propensities of microfiltration membranes and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and analyzed the characteristics of deposited foulants on the membranes in two parallel Membrane bioreactor (MBR)-RO systems, with MBRs operated at different food to micro-organism (F/M) ratios. The results show that a high F/M ratio (0.50 g/g MLSS day) in the MBR caused greater membrane fouling rates of the MBR and RO membranes than a low F/M ratio (0.17 g/g MLSS day). In the MBRs, deposited microbial flocs were major foulants at low flux (10 L/m2 h), whereas soluble substances in the cake foulants predominantly induced membrane fouling at high fluxes (20 and 30 L/m2 h). In order to investigate the contributions of the protein, polysaccharides, and transparent exopolymer in the soluble substances to membrane fouling, bovine serum albumin, sodium alginate, and gum xanthan were used as model compounds, respectively, in experiments with the activated sludge samples from the MBR. The results imply that soluble polysaccharides (SP) and soluble transparent exopolymer particles (sTEP) were associated with fouling propagation. On the RO membranes, SP and sTEP were identified as major contributors to RO fouling rather than microbial cells and soluble protein. Our findings emphasize that the important role of the nature of soluble substances in membrane fouling and highlight that optimization of MBR operation is crucial to alleviate RO membrane fouling.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100499
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10964
ISSN: 1944-3994
DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2013.776243
Schools: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
Research Centres: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre 
Rights: © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. This paper was published in Desalination and Water Treatment and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of Balaban Desalination Publications. The paper can be found at the following official DOI: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2013.776243]. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
Fulltext Permission: open
Fulltext Availability: With Fulltext
Appears in Collections:CEE Journal Articles

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