• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2015

Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging membrane technology with potential applications in desalination and wastewater reclamation. The osmotic pressure gradient across the FO membrane is used to generate water flux. In this study, flux performance and foulant deposition on the FO membrane were systematically investigated with a co-current cross-flow membrane system. Sodium alginate (SA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and tannic acid (TA) were used as model foulants. Organics adsorbed on the membrane were peeled off via oscillation and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When an initial flux of $8.42L/m^2h$ was applied, both flux reduction and foulant deposition were slight for the feed solution containing BSA and TA. In comparison, flux reduction and foulant deposition were much more severe for the feed solution containing SA, as a distinct SA cake-layer was formed on the membrane surface and played a crucial role in membrane fouling. In addition, as the initial SA concentration increased in FS, the thickness of the cake-layer increased remarkably, and the membrane fouling became more severe.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.481-488
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• 2012

The anionic exchange polymer, poly(vinyl amine)(PVAm), was coated onto polyamide (PA) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes by using 'salting-out' method. The effects of the fouling phenomena for these PVAm coated membranes were investigated using the model foulants, bovine serum albumin (BSA), humic acid (HA), and sodium alginate (SA). The surface coating and the fouling phenomena were observed by the scanning electron microscopy. And the flux was measured for each 100 ppm of above foulant aqueous solution at the operating pressure, 2, 4, 8 bar. The PVAm-coated PA membranes showed somewhat fouling improvements and the fouling reduction was shown in the order of HA > SA > BSA, particularly HA case was distinct.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2004

Total resistance of membrane in a micro-filtration system using a metal membrane was mainly attributed to the permeate resistance of cake layer($R_c$), which was formed by deposited particles from the physico-chemical interactions of solids on membrane surface. Intermittent back ozonation was highly effective than the air backwashing for fouling reduction. As far the operational effect, under same ozone injection, the increase of gas flow-rate was more favorable than the increase of injection time far the recovery of permeation flux. As the filtration time was longer, the effect of flux recovery by intermittent back-ozonation decreased. Therefore, it is preferable to operate membrane cleaning before the foulant is consolidated on membrane surface.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.332-341
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• 2012

We studied the effects of induction of natural convection instability flow (NCIF) according to the gravitational orientation (inclined angle) of the membrane cell on the reduction of membrane fouling in the constant-flow ultrafiltration (UF) of colloidal silica solutions. Five colloidal silica solutions with different silica size (average size = 7, 12, 22, 50 nm and 78 nm) were used as UF test solutions. The silica particles in colloidal solutions form cakes on the membrane surface thereby causing severe membrane fouling. The constant-flow UF performance according to the gravitational orientation of the membrane cell (from $0^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$ inclined angle), was examined in an unstirred dead-end cell. We evaluate the effects of NCIF on the suppression of fouling formation by measuring the variation of transmembrane pressure (TMP) and the increase of critical flux by using the flux-stepping method. In the constant-flow dead-end UF for the smaller size (7, 12 nm and 22 nm) silica colloidal solutions, changing the gravitational orientation (inclined angle) of the membrane cell above the $30^{\circ}$ angle induces NCIF in the membrane module. This induced NCIF enhances back transport of the deposited silica solutes away from the membrane surface, therefore gives for the reduction of TMP. But in the constant-flow UF for the more larger size (50 nm and 78 nm) silica colloidal solutions, NCIF effects are not appearing. The critical flux is increased as increasing the module angle and decreasing the silica size. Those results show that the intesity of NCIF occurrence in membrane module is more higher as increasing the module angle and decreasing the silica size.

• 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.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.6 no.3 s.20
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• pp.36-43
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• 2003

Operating performance of industrial gas turbines in combined cycle power plants depends upon atmospheric conditions. Compressor fouling caused by airborne particles in the atmosphere and their adhesions on compressor blades is one of critical phenomena related to the performance degradation of industrial gas turbines. Compressor fouling provokes increase of pressure loss in inlet duct, decrease of mass flow rate of intake air and decrease of compressor stage efficiency. In this study, impacts of compressor fouling on the performance of an industrial gas turbine operating at design point condition are investigated analytically. As results, it is found that the reduction of produced power with decreased mass flow rate of intake air caused by narrowed flow area by the adhesion of airborne particles on compressor blades is the most dominant impact on the gas turbine performance by the compressor fouling phenomena.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.1857-1862
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• 2003

The air-side particulate fouling in the heat exchangers of HVAC applications degrades the performance of cooling capacity, pressure drop across a heat exchanger, and indoor air quality. Indoor and outdoor air contaminants foul heat exchangers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the fouling characteristics trough accelerated tests. The fouling characteristics are analyzed as functions of a dust concentration (1.28 and 3.84 $g/m^3$), a face velocity (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m/s), and a surface condition. The cooling capacity in the slitted finned-tube heat exchangers at the face velocity of 1 m/s decreases about 2% and the pressure drop increases up to 57%. The rate of build-up of fouling is observed to be 3 times slower for this three-fold reduction of dust concentration whilst still approaching the same asymptotic level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.645-652
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• 2016

A membrane module including grid was designed and introduced to MBR (membrane bio-reactor) for the purpose of better control of membrane fouling. It could be anticipated that the grid enhances the shear force of fluid-air mixture into the membrane surface by even-distributing the fluid-air to the membrane module. As MLSS concentration, packing density which is expressed in the ratio of the housing and the cross-sectional area of membrane fibers ($A_m/A_t$) and air-flow rate were changed, membrane foulings were checked by monitoring fouling resistances. The total fouling resistance ($R_c+R_f$) without grid installation (i.e., control) was $2.13{\times}10^{12}m^{-1}$, whereas it was reduced to $1.69{\times}10^{12}m^{-1}$ after the grid was installed. Regardless of the grid installation, the $R_c+R_f$ increased as the packing density increased from 0.09 to 0.28, however, the increment of resistance for the grid installation was less than that of the control. Increase in the air flow rate did not always guarantee the reduction of fouling resistance, indicating that the higher air flow rate can partially de-flocculate the activated sludge flocs, which led to severer membrane fouling. Consequently, installation of grids inside the housing have brought a beneficial effect on membrane fouling and optimum air flow rate is important to keep the membrane lowering fouling.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.433-449
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• 2016

The successful application of cleaning protocols is vital for optimized filtration processes. A series of experiments with an ultrafiltration ceramic tubular membrane were carried out for the foulants dextran and carboxymethyl cellulose. Firstly, the impact on fouling of concentration changes was investigated with the increase in resistance being used as the key parameter. In the second phase, removal of reversible fouling was also investigated by employing intermittent rinsing consisting of a cold water rinse followed by a hot one. A comparative analysis for both foulants is reported. Across a range of concentrations and for both foulants, the reduction in resistance due to rinsing was found to depend upon concentration (C); it changed as $C^n$ where n was found to be 0.3. A plausible semi-theoretical explanation is given. Thirdly, for both foulants, the application of a combination of strong alkaline solutions with oxidizing agent (mainly sodium hypochlorite) followed by acid was found to be appropriate for cleaning of the ceramic membrane. The effect of increased temperature for cleaning agents followed by a warm water rinse contributed positively to the cleaning capability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.210-219
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• 1998

Sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)(SPES) of various ion exchange capacity (IEC) was prepared by heterogeneous sulfonation with chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) to make hydrophilic ultrafiltration membrane for reducing fouling. The effects of CSA concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time has been investigated. The reaction was effective when the temperature is above 10$\circ$C and the CSA concentration is over 0.05 mol, although polymer chain has been significantly degraded. The substitution of sulfonic acid groups was characterized by FTIR and $^1$H-NMR. Transport properties and fouling test have been conducted to the modified SPES ultrafiltration rnembranrs by heterogeneors method. Membranes were obtained using DCM and PVP as a non-solvent and pore forming agent, respectively. Flux reduced and rejection increased with ion exchange capacity. Finger-like structure was disappeared and the thickness of top layer was increased. Dense membrane by non-solvent DCM and porous membrane by pore forming agent PVP was prepared. Fouling was reduced with increasing ion exchange capacity because of hydrophilicity.