• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2017

A tube-type ceramic membrane for microfiltration was developed, and the membrane module comprised of three membranes was also applied to biological carbon and nitrogen removal processes for post-treatment. Manufacturing the microfiltration membrane was successful with the structure and boundary of the coated and support layers within the membrane module clearly observable. Total kjeldahl nitrogen removal from effluent was additionally achieved through the elimination of solids containing organic nitrogen by use of the ceramic membrane module. Removal of suspended solids and colloidal substances were noticeably improved after membrane filtration, and the filtration function of the ceramic membrane could also easily be recovered by physical cleaning. By using the ceramic membrane module, the system showed average removals of organics, nitrogen, and solids up to 98%, 80% and 99.9%, respectively. Thus, this microfiltration system appears to be an alternative and flexible option for existing biological nutrient removal processes suffering from poor settling performance due to the use of a clarifier.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2007

We performed periodic water-back-flushing using permeate water to minimize membrane fouling to enhance permeate flux in tubular ceramic microfiltration system for water treatment of high turbid source. The filtration time (FT) = 2 min with periodic 6 sec water-back-flushing showed the highest value of dimensionless permeate flux ($J/J_o$), and the lowest value of resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$), and we acquired the highest total permeate volume $(V_T)\;=\;6.805L$. Also in the result of BT effect at fixed FT = 10 min and BT (back-flushing time) = 20 sec showed the lowest value of $R_f$ and the highest value of $J/J_o$, and we could obtain the highest $V_T\;=\;6.660\;L$. Consequently, FT = 2 min and BT = 6 sec could be the optimal condition in water treatment of high turbid source above 10 NTU. However, FT = 10 min and BT = 20 sec was superior to reduce operating costs because of lower back-flushing frequency. Then the average quality of water treated by our tubular ceramic MF system was turbidity of 0.07 NTU, $COD_{Mn}$ of 1.86 mg/L and $NH_3-N$ of 0.007 mg/L.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2020

Hranfa's marl, a local natural mineral, is selected for the decontamination by adsorption of aqueous effluents in textile industry. Its physicochemical characterization is first performed. It is composed mainly of Calcite, Quartz, Ankerite and Muscovite. Its specific surface area is 40 ㎡ g^-1. Its adsorption performance is then tested in batch conditions using an industrial organic dye, Bemacid Red E-TL, as a model pollutant. The measured adsorption capacity of Hranfa's marl is 16 mg g^-1 which is comparable to that of other types of natural adsorbents. A hybrid process is tested coupling adsorption of the dye on marl in suspension and microfiltration. An adsorption reactor is inserted into the circulation loop of a microfiltration pilot using ceramic membranes. This makes possible a continuous extraction of the treated water provided that a periodic replacement of the saturated adsorbent is done. The breakthrough curve obtained by analyzing the dye concentration in the permeate is close to the ideal one considering that no dye will cross the membrane as long as the adsorbent load is not saturated. These first experimental data provide proof of concept for such a hybrid process.

• 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 Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2009

It is well known that coagulation pretreatment can reduce foulants prior to membrane filtration. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of coagulation on fouling of ceramic microfiltration membrane($0.1 {\mu}m$) using pilot plant of $150m^3/day/train$ capacity. Train A membrane system has pretreatment process of ozonation and coagulation while train B has only coagulation. Two types of coagulation operation were investigated: back mixer(rapid mixing with or without slow mixing) which is a conventional mechanically stirred mixer and an inline static mixer. Ozone dose rate for train A was 1 mg/L and ozone contact time was 12 min. The coagulation dose(PACl 10% as $Al_2O_3$) rate was changed 20~40 mg/L according to experimental schedule. In this experimental conditions, the coagulation of back mixer type with rapid mixing(GT=72,000) and slow mixing(GT=45,000) was the best effective in reduction of ceramic membrane fouling regardless preozonation. Especially, the effect of inline static mixer was sensitive to change in water quality. Ozonation mainly affected irreversible fouling rather than reversible fouling in accordance with less adsorption of NOM on the membrane surface. Thus, the increase rate of the nomalized TMP(trans membrane pressure) at $25^{\circ}C$ for train A was relatively lower than that of train B under same coagulation process with same coagulant dosage. The best performance of ceramic membrane appeared in case of combined process with ozonation, therefore this integrated process is able to archive less coagulant dosing and secure a stability of ceramic membrane system.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2009

In this study, we used the hybrid module that was composed of granular activated carbons (GAC) packing between module inside and outside of tubular ceramic microfiltration membrane for advanced drinking water treatment. Instead of natural organic matters (NOM) and fine inorganic particles in natural water source, modified solution was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. $N_2$-back-flushing of 10 sec was performed per every period of 10 min to minimize membrane fouling and to improve permeate flux (J). As a result, resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) decreased and J increased as concentration of humic acid changed from 10 mg/L to 2 mg/L step by step, and finally the highest total permeate volume ($V_T$) could be obtained at 2 mg/L. Then, treatment efficiencies of turbidity and $UV_{254}$ absorbance were excellent above 99.36% and 97.19%, respectively, but that of $UV_{254}$ absorbance for only microfiltration without GAC at 10 mg/L of humic acid was decreased a little as 90.84%.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of organic materials on membrane fouling in advanced drinking water treatment by a hybrid module packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) outside multi-channel ceramic microfiltration membrane. Synthetic water was prepared with humic acid and kaolin to simulate natural water resouces consisting of natural organic matter and inorganic particles. Kaolin concentration was fixed at 30 mg/L and humic acid was changed as 2~10 mg/L to inspect the effect of organic matters. Periodic back-flushing using permeate water was performed for 10 sec per filtration of 10 min. As a result, both resistance of membrane fouling (Rf) and permeate flux (J) were influenced highly by concentration of humic acid. It proved that NOM like humic acid could be an important factor on membrane fouling in drinking water treatment. Turbidity and UV254 absorbance were removed up to above 97.4% and 59.2% respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.100-108
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• 2022

Among various industries, the textile industry uses the largest amount of water for coloring textiles which leads to a large amount of wastewater containing various kinds of dye. There are various methods for the removal of dye such as flocculation, ozone treatment, adsorption, etc. But these processes are not much successful due to the issue of recycling which enhances the cost. Alternatively, the membrane separation process for the treatment of dye in wastewater is already documented as the best available technique. Polymeric membrane and ceramic membrane are two separate groups of separation membranes. Advantages of ceramic membranes include the ease of cleaning, long lifetime, good chemical and thermal resistance, and mechanical stability. Ceramic membranes can be prepared from various sources and natural materials like clay, zeolite, and fly ash are very cheap and easily available. In this review separation of wastewater is classified into mainly three groups: ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration (MF), and nanofiltration (NF) process.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.146-148
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• 2001

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.271-279
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• 2023

Fouling is an inevitable problem in membrane water treatment plant. It can be measured by trans-membrane pressure (TMP) in the constant flux operation, and chemical cleaning is carried out when TMP reaches a critical value. An early fouilng alarm is defined as warning the critical TMP value appearance in advance. The alarming method was developed using one of machine learning algorithms, decision tree, and applied to a ceramic microfiltration (MF) pilot plant. First, the decision tree model that classifies the normal/abnormal state of the filtration cycle of the ceramic MF pilot plant was developed and it was then used to make the early fouling alarm method. The accuracy of the classification model was up to 96.2% and the time for the early warning was when abnormal cycles occurred three times in a row. The early fouling alram can expect reaching a limit TMP in advance (e.g., 15-174 hours). By adopting TMP increasing rate and backwash efficiency as machine learning variables, the model accuracy and the reliability of the early fouling alarm method were increased, respectively.