What is it about?
Membrane processes have rapidly made their way into various fields and, in particular, in the treatment and reuse of municipal and industrial wastewater. However, membrane performance is drastically affected by fouling. In fact, as the filtration time increases, soluble materials and particulates are deposited on the membrane and inside the membrane, due to the interactions between the components of the activated sludge and the membrane. In the microfiltration and ultrafiltration literature, there has been significant progress in understanding the fouling of individual components such as bacteria, yeasts, proteins, and colloids [1-4].
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Why is it important?
Much of this literature has focused on the effect of charging (via the change in pH or salt concentration), cross-flow, concentration, membrane hydrophilicity, membrane pore size, and flow (constant pressure and constant flow). Some general interactions of simple colloids are valid for macromolecules, the most commonly studied of which are proteins. Furthermore, the interaction between suspended colloids or those in the deposited “cake” in a mixed-species environment significantly changes the nature of the fouling layer in terms of strength and reversibility, even for simple model systems [5].
Perspectives
Due to the high organic load of wastewater, the acidic pH, and the presence of recalcitrant and toxic substances such as phenolic and lipid compounds, their production represents a serious environmental problem. On the other hand, vegetation water can be considered a source of compounds, which, if correctly separated and recovered, can be reused. Membrane technologies represent a possible green approach to the problem, instead of focusing on the destruction of phytotoxic compounds, it could be to look for alternative valorization mechanisms. Membrane systems are receiving increasing attention for water treatment. However, one of the major obstacles to the further incorporation of membrane processes into industrial operations is the decrease in flow resulting from fouling. Membrane replacement due to fouling represents the largest operating cost when membranes are used in water treatment applications.
Richard (Ricky) Smith Jr.
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This page is a summary of: AFM Analysis of Polymeric Membranes Fouling, IgMin Research, May 2024, IgMin Publications Inc.,
DOI: 10.61927/igmin192.
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