• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.193-206
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• 2010

Organic fouling and biofouling pose a significant challenge to the membrane filtration process. Photocatalysis-membrane hybrid system is a novel idea for reducing these membranes fouling however, when $TiO_2 photocatalyst nanoparticles are used in suspension, catalyst recovery is not only imposes an extra step on the process but also significantly contributes to increased membrane resistance and reduced permeate flux. In this study, $TiO_2$ photocatalyst has been immobilized by coating on the microfiltration (MF) membrane surface to minimize organic and microbial fouling. Nano-sized $TiO_2$ was first synthesized by a sol-gel method. The synthesized $TiO_2$ was coated on a Poly Vinyl Difluoride (PVDF) membrane (MF) surface using spray coating and dip coating techniques to obtain hybrid functional composite membrane. The characteristics of the synthesized photocatalyst and a functional composite membrane were studied using numerous instruments in terms of physical, chemical and electrical properties. In comparison to the clean PVDF membrane, the $TiO_2$ coated MF membrane was found more effective in removing methylene blue (20%) and E-coli (99%).

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2023

This work addresses the development of microfiltration ceramic membrane from alumina using extrusion method. The membranes were sintered at different temperatures ranging between 1000 and 1300℃. The alumina was characterized with thermogravimetric analysis, particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and scanning electron microscope analysis. Subsequently, the effect of sintering temperature on the membrane properties such as porosity, flexural strength, and pure water permeability was investigated and optimized for the sintering temperature. It is observed that with increasing sintering temperature, the porosity of the membranes decreases and the flexural strength, and pure water permeability of the membranes increase. The uncoated and coated membranes were compared at constant flux mode of filtration. Under the turbidity solution recirculation alone at 100 NTU, trans-membrane pressure (TMP) of uncoated membrane remained constant when the filtration flux was below 121 Lm^-2 h ^-1 , while the coated membrane was 111 Lm_-2 h ^-1 . Although suction pressure increased more rapidly at higher turbidity, coated membrane filtration showed better removal efficiency of the turbidity.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1997

An experimental research was conducted in order to study the treatment of waste reuse system using the membrane. Cell tester which supplied by Amicon was used to compare the fluxes of various membranes. Specially investigated items in the experiment were carried out by using 5 species of microfiltration membranes as to various MLSS concentrations. From the results, it is recognized from the cell test that 0.2 $\mu $m pore-sized membrane have the most effective performance at 2000mg/L of MLSS, and physical properties of membranes such as strength, deflection, elongation, structure of pore are more important than chemical properties in microfiltration membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2002

This research was to demonstrate the Possibility of sewage reuse for industrial purpose with use of membrane system. A bench scale test with microfiltration and reverse osmosis showed that microfiltration in the sewage treatment was not able to remove the soluble salts but 70% suspended solids (SS), suggesting that the treated water could be used as direct cooling water. In addition, the reverse osmosis removed not only soluble salts but also 95% SS, proposing that reverse osmosis-treated water could be used as both indirect cooling water and rinsing water. For a 100 ton/day pilot plant, 20 and 12 elements of microfiltration and reverse osmosis were required, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2009

Low-pressure membrane processes have been extensively expanded their applications to drinking water production in a few decades. As a capacity of a membrane plant becomes greater in recent years, proper methods to increase water production as well as to treat residuals have drawn great attention. A possible treatment option for the better water production is to apply a dual membrane system. The second stage microfiltration was installed and operated for approximately six months. The residuals from the two stage microfiltration were investigated to learn their characteristics in settling and dewatering processes. The settlability of the membrane residuals were greatest at the SS concentration of approximately 15000mg/L. The proper dose of the polyelectrolytes for filterability were obtained in the range of 0.5~1%. In the dosage range, the water contents of the membrane residuals were greater but the SRF were lower than the residual from the conventional process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.785-793
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• 2004

Coagulation has been investigated for pretreatment of low-pressure membrane systems such as microfiltration and ultrafiltration. Coagulation pretreatment can reduce foulants (particles and organic matter) prior to membrane filtration. However, when in-line coagulation or submerged type of filtration is used, flocculent aggregates could act as a foulant depending on concentrations and specific properties of floc. A natural water and three synthetic waters were used to investigate effects of coagulation pretreatment and presence of flocculent aggregates on membrane fouling. Coagulation pretreatment shows that foul ants were effectively removed during coagulation and the formed cake layer on the membrane surface had less resistances compared to raw natural water. In addition, little difference in membrane fouling was found by flocculent aggregates from the natural water. Interestingly, however, the results by three synthetic waters indicated that flocculent aggregates could have adverse effects on membrane fouling in a specific condition.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2012

The effect of water back-flushing period (filtration time, FT) was investigated in hybrid process of alumina microfiltration and photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment in this study, and compared with the previous studies with carbon microfiltration or alumina ultrafiltration membranes. The FT was changed in the range of 2~10 min with fixed 10 sec of BT. Then, the FT effects on resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$), permeate flux (J) and total permeate volume ($V_T$) were observed during total filtration time of 180 min. As decreasing FT, $R_f$ decreased and J increased as decreasing FT, which was same with the previous results with carbon microfiltration or alumina ultrafiltration membranes. The treatment efficiency of turbidity was high beyond 98.1%, and the effect of FT was not shown on treatment efficiency of turbidity, which was same with the previous result of carbon microfiltration. The treatment efficiency of organic matters was the highest value of 89.6 % at FT 8 min, which was a little higher than those of the previous results, and the effect of FT was not shown on treatment efficiency of organic matters.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.273-283
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• 2017

Polysulfone (PSF) is one of an important polymer that has been widely used in the manufacture of asymmetric microfiltration (MF) membranes. PSF membrane is considered as hydrophobic membrane that easily fouled during membrane operation process. The blending method is an effective method for improving the fouling resistance of PSF membranes. sPES (sulfonated polyethersulfone) is one of the useful polymers that can be used in PSF polymer blend method to improve hydrophilicity of PSF membranes. In this study, microfiltration polymer membranes were prepared by using PSF/sPES/PVP/BE/DMF casting solution and water coagulant. The morphology of MF membranes was changed by addition of a small amount of sPES in casting solution. The morphology of the sPES added membranes was changed into a highly asymmetric structure. The active layer grew and mean pore size was decreased by addition of sPES. However, the water flux of PSF/sPES/DMF/PVP/BE membrane was higher than that of PSF/DMF/PVP/BE membrane.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 1999

Membrane separation process is considered as an alternative of conventional water purification system using coagulationㆍsedimentation＋sand filtration. In this study, it was examined that the application possibility of Hollowfiber Microfiltration membrane for water purification process. A $20m^3/day$ scale pilot plant was used for studying the possibility of long-term operation and the stability of water quality under the optimum conditions, 0.03m/h permeate flux, filtration for 10 minutes, pause for 2 minutes(including air-scrubbing for 30 seconds), obtained by lab-scale experiment. As a result, it was proved stability of pilot plant over one year and filtrate quality(Turbidity. SS etc). Therefore, it was proved that membrane separation process using Hollowfiber Microfiltration membrane can be applied for water purification system

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.231-240
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• 2011

The objectives of this research are to investigate coagulation efficiencies of two coagulants l.e., alum and polyaluminum chloride and to understand effects of the coagulants on membrane fouling in microfiltration. The turbidity of supernatant from alum coagulation was increased with increasing doses whereas the turbidity from PACl coagulation was maintained at the low values. The observed injection volume of PACl for the same removal was approximately 30 percent less than alum, which produced a low sludge volume. The settling velocity of PACl flocs was greater than alum flocs. The results corresponded well with floc size measurements. Flux decline from alum coagulation was significant due in part to small sizes of flocs. At the low dose, alum floc had less specific cake resistance than PACl floc. However, as the dosage was increased, the increases in specific cake resistances of alum was substantial. Alum coagulation pretreatment needs careful operation to reduce membrane fouling by flocs. In general, PACl coagulants were more effective than alum coagulants for pretreatment of membrane processes because PACl showed the better performance in coagulation and membrane fouling.