• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.621-628
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• 2000

Microporous polypropylene (PP) membranes have the high chemical and corrosion resistance, the good mechanical properties and the thermal stability under high temperatures, but its application is restricted within narrow limits due to hydrophobicity of membranes. In order to impart permanent hydrophilicity to the PP microfiltration membrane, the radiation-induced graft of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylic acid (AAc) containing hydrophilic functional group onto the membrane has been studied. The effect of graft conditions such as reaction time, total radiation dose, reaction temperatures, acid compositions on graft yield was investigated. Modified PP membranes were shown to cause an increase in the gas flux. Oil emulsion permeation flux of both original PP membrane and modified PP membrane was examined.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2019

The roles of polypropylene (PP) beads and pH on membrane fouling and treatment efficiency were investigated in a hybrid advanced water treatment process of tubular carbon fiber membranes (ultrafiltration (UF) or microfiltration (MF)) and PP beads. The synthetic feed including humic acid and kaolin flowed inside the membrane, and the permeated contacted the PP beads fluidized in the space between the membrane and the module with UV irradiation and periodic water back-flushing. In the hybrid process of UF ($0.05{\mu}m$) and PP beads, final resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) after 180 min increased as PP beads increased. The turbidity treatment efficiency was the maximum at 30 g/L; however, that of dissolved organic matters (DOM) showed the highest at PP beads 50 g/L. The $R_f$ strengthened as pH of feed increased. It means that the membrane fouling could be inhibited at low alkali condition. The treatment efficiency of turbidity was almost constant independent of pH; however, that of DOM showed the maximum at pH 5. For MF ($0.1{\mu}m$), the final $R_f$ was the minimum at PP beads 40 g/L. The treatment efficiencies of turbidity and DOM were the maximum at PP beads 10 g/L.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2013

Four membranes were used to separate Chlorella sp. from their culture medium in cross-flow microfiltration (MF) experiments: cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose nitrate (CN), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF). It was found that the hydrophilic CA and CN membranes with a pore size of 1.2 ${\mu}m$ exhibited the best performances among all the membranes in terms of permeation flux. The hydrophobicity of each membrane material was determined by measuring the angle between the water (liquid) and membrane (solid). Contact angle measurements showed that deionized (DI) water had almost adsorbed onto the surfaces of the CA and CN membranes, which gave $0.00^{\circ}$ contact angle values. The PP and PVDF membranes were more hydrophobic, giving contact angle values of $95.97^{\circ}$ and $126.63^{\circ}$, respectively. Although the pure water flux increased with increasing pore diameter (0.8 < 1.2 < 3.0 ${\mu}m$) in hydrophilic CA and CN membranes, the best performance in term of filtration rate for filtering a microalgae suspension was attained by membranes with a pore size of 1.2 ${\mu}m$. The fouled membrane pore sizes and pore blocking were inspected using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). MF with large pore diameters was more sensitive to fouling that contributed to intermediate blocking, where the size of the membrane pores is almost equivalent to that of cells.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.31-38
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• 2003

A pilot scale biofilter pretreatment-microfiltration system (BF-MF) was operated to investigate the effect of biofilter treatment in fouling reduction of microfiltration. Biofiltration was expected to reduce the membrane fouling by removal of turbidity and metal oxides. The hollow-fiber MF module with a nominal pore size of 0.1$\mu$m and a surface area of 8m$^2$ was submerged in a filtration tank and microfiltration was operated at a constant flux of 0.5 m/d. Biofiltration using polypropylene pellets was performed at a high filtration velocity of 320 m/d. Two experimental setups composed of MF and BF/MF, i.e., without and with biofilter pretreatment, were compared. Throughout the experimental period of 9 months, biofilter pretreatment was effective to reduce the membrane fouling, which was proved by the result of time variations of trans-membrane pressure and backwash conditions. The turbidity removal rate by biofiltration varied between 40% to 80% due to the periodic washing for biofilter contactor and raw water turbidity. In addition to turbidity, metals, especially Mn, Fe and Al were removed effectively with average removal rates of 89.2%, 67.8% and 64.9%, respectively. Further analysis of foulants on the used membranes revealed that turbidity and metal removal by biofiltration was the major effect of biofiltration pretreatment against microfiltration fouling.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.954-959
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• 1999

Radiation-induced grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(HEMA), acrylic acid(AAc) and methacrylic acid(MAAc) onto polypropylene microfiltration membrane has been studied. The effect of grafting conditions such as solvent composition(MeOH and $H_2O$) and monomer concentration on the grafting yield in investigated. The highest degree of grafting is obtained at a solvent composition of 25% $H_2O$:75% MeOH for HEMA, pure water for AAc and 50% $H_2O$:50% MeOH for MAAc. Modification of the PP membranes with hydrophilic monomers is shown to cause an increase in the water permeation flux of the membranes. It is found that HEMA is the best monomer to increase the water permeation flux and the highest water permeation flux is obtained at 99% degree of grafting. The water permeation flux of AAc-grafted PP membrane and MAAc-grafted PP membrane is very sensitive to environmental pH and $Cu^{2+}$ ion, but the water permeation flux of HEMA-grafted PP membrane scarcely depends on pH and $Cu^{2+}$ ion.