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http://dx.doi.org/10.4491/eer.2018.164

Fouling control in a woven fibre microfiltration membrane for water treatment  

Chollom, Martha Noro (Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology)
Rathilal, Sudesh (Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology)
Pikwa, Kumnandi (Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology)
Pillay, Lingham (Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University)
Publication Information
Environmental Engineering Research / v.24, no.3, 2019 , pp. 418-426 More about this Journal
Abstract
Current available commercial membranes are not robust and are therefore destroyed if left to dry out or handled roughly. Woven fibre microfiltration (WFMF) membranes have advantages over its competitors with respect to durability, thus, favourable for the developing economies and operation during rough conditions. Evaluation of the effects of aeration and brushing as a flux enhancement strategies for WFMF membrane was the purpose of this study. The WFMF membrane was found to be susceptible to pore plugging by colloidal material and adsorption/attachment by microbiological contaminants. This led to a 50% loss in flux. Aeration as a single flux enhancement strategy proved insufficient to maintain high flux successfully. Therefore combined flux enhancement strategies yielded the best results.
Keywords
Aeration; Flux enhancement; Fouling; POU; South Africa; Woven fibre membrane;
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