• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2022

In this study, the stability of an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE) cell was evaluated in an on-off cycling operation with respect to an applied electric bias, i.e., a current density of 500 mA cm^-2, and an open circuit. The ohmic and polarization resistances of the system were monitored during operation (~800 h) using electrochemical impedance spectra. Specific consideration was given to the ohmic resistance of the cell, especially that of the membrane under on-off cycling conditions, by consistently feeding the cell with KOH solution. Owing to an excess feed solution, a momentary increase in the polarization resistance was observed immediately after the open-circuit. The excess feed solution was mostly recovered by subjecting the cell to the applied electric bias. Stability tests on the AEMWE cell under on-off cycling with continuous feeding even under an open circuit can guarantee long-term stability by avoiding an irreversible increase in ohmic and polarization resistances.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2020

Although membrane bio-reactor (MBR) has been widely applied for wastewater treatment plants, the membrane fouling problems are still considered as an obstacle to overcome. Thus, many studies and commercial developments on mitigating membrane fouling in MBR have been carried out. Recently, high voltage impulse (HVI) has gained attention for a possible alternative technique for desalting, non-thermal sterilization, bromate-free disinfection and mitigation of membrane fouling. In this study, it was verified if the HVI could be used for mitigation of membrane fouling, particularly the internal pore fouling in MBR. The HVI was applied to the fouled membrane under different conditions of electric fields (E) and contact time (t) of HVI in order to investigate how much of internal pore fouling was reduced. The internal pore fouling resistance (R_f) after HVI induction was reduced as both E and t increased. For example, R_f decreased by 19% when the applied E was 5 kV/cm and t was 80 min. However, the R_f decreased by 71% as the E increased to 15 kV/cm under the same contact time. The correlation between E and t that needed for 20% of R_f reduction was modeled based on kinetics. The model equation, E^1.54t = 1.2 × 10³ was obtained by the membrane filtration data that were obtained with and without HVI induction. The equation states the products of En and t is always constant, which means that the required contact time can be reduced in accordance with the increase of E.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.263-276
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• 2015

This paper deals with the influence of chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen ratio ((COD/N) ratio) on the performance of an membrane bioreactor. We aim at establishing relations between COD/N ratio, organisms' distribution and sludge properties (specific resistance to filtration (SRF) and membrane fouling). It is also essential to define new criteria to characterize the autotrophic microorganisms, as the measurements of apparent removal rates of ammonium seem irrelevant to characterize their specific activity. Two experiments (A and B) have been carried on a 30 L lab scale membrane bioreactor with low COD/N ratio (2.3 and 1.5). The obtained results clearly indicate the role of the COD/N ratio on the biomass distribution and performance of the membrane bioreactor. New specific criteria for characterising the autotrophic microorganisms activity, is also defined as the ratio of maximum ammonium rate to the specific oxygen uptake rate in the endogenous state for autotrophic bacteria which seem to be constant whatever the operating conditions are. They are about 24.5 to 23.8 $gN-NH_4{^+}/gO_2$, for run A and B, respectively. Moreover, the filterability of the biological suspension appear significantly lower, specific resistance to filtration and membrane fouling rate are less than $10^{14}m^{-2}$ and $0.07\;10^{12}m^{-1}.d^{-1}$ respectively, than in conventional MBR confirming the adv < antage of the membrane bioreactor functioning under low COD/N ratio.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.102-105
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• 1995

The membrane separation process is being utilized to save energy in various fields such as the food, biotechnology, chemical, enviromental fields. Especially the use of ceramic membrane among various inorganic membranes is expected to expand to their excellent thermal, chemical and mechanical resistance. In this presentation, we would like to explain our ceramic membrane CEFILT MF for microfiltration and CEFILT UF for ultra-filtration, and the purification of fermentation products as the application example using CEFILT MF.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2010

Chromium nitride (CrN) samples with two different layer structures (multilayer and single layer) were coated on bipolar plates of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) using the reactive sputtering method. The effects with respect to layer structure on corrosion resistance and overall cell performance were investigated. A continuous and thin chromium nitride layer ($Cr_{0.48}\;N_{0.52}$) was formed on the surface of the SUS 316L when the nitrogen flow rate was 10 sccm. The electrochemical stability of the coated layers was examined using the potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods in the simulated corrosive circumstances of the PEMFC under $80^{\circ}C$. Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the CrN coated sample and the gas diffusion layer was measured by using Wang's method. A single cell performance test was also conducted. The test results showed that CrN coated SUS316L with multilayer structure had excellent corrosion resistance compared to single layer structures and single cell performance results with $25\;cm^2$ in effective area also showed the same tendency. The difference of the electrochemical properties between the single and multilayer samples was attributed to the Cr interlayer layer, which improved the corrosion resistance. Because the coating layer was damaged by pinholes, the Cr layer prevented the penetration of corrosive media into the substrate. Therefore, the CrN with a multilayer structure is an effective coating method to increase the corrosion resistance and to decrease the ICR for metallic bipolar plates in PEMFC.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2004

The effect of porous support layer resistance and PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) coating thickness on ethylene/nitrogen separation of composite membranes was studied with the model of Pinnau and Wijmans〔1〕. To control the support resistance (or permeance), PES porous membranes were prepared by phase inversion process with various PES/NMP dope concentrations. The thickness of selective PDMS top layer was controlled by using a spin coater. Its cross-section and coating thickness were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Pure gas permeation test was done with ethylene and nitrogen, respectively. The experimental result for olefin/nitrogen separation process matched well with theoretical result from the model used. The result shows that optimization between PDMS coating thickness and support resistance is important to get PDMS composite membranes with best performance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.324-332
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• 2009

This study aimed to measure chemical resistance properties of the microfiltration flat-sheet membrane made by Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) with respect to the immersed time. The solutions of effective chlorine 0.5 wt% NaClO, HCl 1 wt% and pH 4 buffer under acidic condition, NaOH 4 wt% and pH 10 buffer under alkine condition were used as widely applied chemicals for membrane washing. The CPVC membrane samples were immersed in the above chemical solutions during 1, 3, 5 and 10 days at 5, 25 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. After then, the tensile strength and elongation at break as the chemical durability for the samples were measured and evaluated. The tensile strength decreased within 5% at $5^{\circ}C$, but decreased up to 17% at 25 and $50^{\circ}C$ for 0.5 wt% NaClO solution mainly used for membrane cleaning. The chemical resistance of CPVC membrane was good enough for HCl 1 wt% and pH 4 buffer acid solutions, but the most vulnerable for NaOH 4 wt% solution.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-37
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• 2010

The performance of an electrodialyzer for concentrating seawater is predicted by means of a computer simulation, which includes the following five steps; Step 1 mass transport; Step 2 current density distribution; Step 3 cell voltage; Step 4 NaCl concentration in a concentrated solution and energy consumption; Step 5 limiting current density. The program is developed on the basis of the following assumption; (1) Solution leakage and electric current leakage in an electrodialyzer are negligible. (2) Direct current electric resistance of a membrane includes the electric resistance of a boundary layer formed on the desalting surface of the membrane due to concentration polarization. (3) Frequency distribution of solution velocity ratio in desalting cells is equated by the normal distribution. (4) Current density i at x distant from the inlets of desalting cells is approximated by the quadratic equation. (5) Voltage difference between the electrodes at the entrance of desalting cells is equal to the value at the exits. (6) Limiting current density of an electrodialyzer is defined as average current density applied to an electrodialyzer when current density reaches the limit of an ion exchange membrane at the outlet of a desalting cell in which linear velocity and electrolyte concentration are the least. (7) Concentrated solutions are extracted from concentrating cells to the outside of the process. The validity of the computer simulation model is demonstrated by comparing the computed results with the performance of electrodialyzers operating in salt-manufacturing plants. The model makes it possible to discuss optimum specifications and operating conditions of a practical-scale electrodialyzer.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.159-173
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• 2011

The air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) process was applied for water desalination. The main objective of the present work was to study the heat and mass transfer mechanism of the process. The experiments were performed on a flat sheet module using aqueous NaCl solutions as a feed. The membrane employed was hydrophobic PTFE of pore size 0.22 ${\mu}m$. A mathematical model is proposed to evaluate the membrane mass transfer coefficient, thermal boundary layers' heat transfer coefficients, membrane / liquid interface temperatures and the temperature polarization coefficients. The mass transfer model was validated by the experimentally and fitted well with the combined Knudsen and molecular diffusion mechanism. The mass transfer coefficient increased with an increase in feed bulk temperature. The experimental parameters such as, feed temperature, 313 to 333 K, feed velocity, 0.8 to 1.8 m/s (turbulent flow region) were analyzed. The permeation fluxes increased with feed temperature and velocity. The effect of feed bulk temperature on the boundary layers' heat transfer coefficients was shown and fairly discussed. The temperature polarization coefficient increased with feed velocity and decreased with temperature. The values obtained were 0.56 to 0.82, indicating the effective heat transfer of the system. The fouling was observed during the 90 h experimental run in the application of natural ground water and seawater. The time dependent fouling resistance can be added in the total transport resistance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.104-112
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• 2009

Ultrafiltration membranes (UF) were manufactured by the conventional phase inversion method using an additives with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone as a solvent. Characteristics of performance could be controlled by the preparation conditions and the operating methods. The fouling resistance was observed by the relative ratio of permeate flux $(J_t)$/pure water flux $(J_o)$. Compared with the anion charged membranes and its original polyamide membrane, fouling resistance to the protein was increasing in proportion to the ion exchange capacity. The relative flux for the bovin serum albumin (BSA) solution increased as pH value further away from isoelectric point of BSA. The hydrophilicity of a membrane, the pH condition, and the operating temperature played the important role in the membrane permeations.