1
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Wiegmann ME, Zhao K, Hube S, Ge L, Lisak G, Wu B. Integrating gravity-driven ceramic membrane filtration with hydroponic system for nutrient recovery from primary municipal wastewater. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 146:91-102. [PMID: 38969465 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
In this study, a gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration system and hydroponic system (cultivating basil and lettuce) were combined for nutrient recovery from primary municipal wastewater. The GDM system was optimized by increasing the periodic air sparging flow rate from 1 to 2 L/min (∼15 hr per 3-4 days), resulting in a ∼52% reduction of irreversible fouling. However, the total fouling was not alleviated, and the water productivity remained comparable. The GDM-filtrated water was then delivered to hydroponic systems, and the effects of hydroponic operation conditions on plant growth and heavy metal uptake were evaluated, with fertilizer- and tap water-based hydroponic systems and soil cultivation system (with tap water) for comparison. It was found that (i) the hydroponic system under batch mode facilitated to promote vegetable growth with higher nutrient uptake rates compared to that under flow-through feed mode; (ii) a shift in nutrient levels in the hydroponic system could impact plant growth (such as plant height and leaf length), especially in the early stages. Nevertheless, the plants cultivated with the GDM-treated water had comparable growth profiles to those with commercial fertilizer or in soils. Furthermore, the targeted hazard quotient levels of all heavy metals for the plants in the hydroponic system with the treated water were greatly lower than those with the commercial fertilizer. Especially, compared to the lettuce, the basil had a lower heavy metal uptake capability and displayed a negligible impact on long-term human health risk, when the treated water was employed for the hydroponic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Elizabeth Wiegmann
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Ke Zhao
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
| | - Selina Hube
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Liya Ge
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, 637141, Singapore
| | - Grzegorz Lisak
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, CleanTech One, 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore
| | - Bing Wu
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107, Reykjavik, Iceland.
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2
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Song W, Ma R, Liang Z, Li J, Dong J, Du X, Wang Z, Li X. Biofilm growth characteristic and footprint identification in gravity-driven ceramic membrane bioreactor with electro-coagulation under extreme conditions for roofing rainwater purification. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 367:121944. [PMID: 39067337 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The identification of biofilm growth footprints influencing on the biofilm detachment and breakup can advance research into how biofilms form. Thus, a gravity-driven ceramic membrane bioreactor (GDCMBR) was used to investigate the growth, detachment and breakup of biofilm using rainwater pretreated by electrocoagulation under 70-days continuous operation. The in-situ ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry (UTDR) technique was applied to non-invasively determine the biofilm thickness. Initially, the biofilm was slowly thickening, but it would collapse and became thinner after accumulating to a certain level, and then it thickened again in a later period, following a cyclic pattern of 'thickening - collapsing - thickening'. This is because the biofilm growth is related with the accumulation of flocs, however, excessive floc formation results in the biofilm being overweight till reaching the thickness limit and thus collapsing. Subsequently, the biofilm gradually thickens again due to the floc production and continuous deposition. Although the biofilm was dynamically changing, the water quality of treatment of the biofilm always remained stable. Ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus have been almost completely removed, while CODMn removal efficiency was around 25%. And total bacteria amount in the membrane concentrate was obviously higher than that in the influent with the greater microbial activity, demonstrating the remarkable enrichment effect on bacteria. The understanding of biofilm growth characteristic and footprint identification enables us to develop rational approaches to control biofilm structure for efficient GDCMBR performance and operation lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Song
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Rong Ma
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhenhao Liang
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Jiawan Li
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Jiahao Dong
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Xing Du
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Zhihong Wang
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Xianhui Li
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, PR China.
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3
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Liang S, Fu K, Li X, Wang Z. Unveiling the spatiotemporal dynamics of membrane fouling: A focused review on dynamic fouling characterization techniques and future perspectives. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 328:103179. [PMID: 38754212 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Membrane technology has emerged as a crucial method for obtaining clean water from unconventional sources in the face of water scarcity. It finds wide applications in wastewater treatment, advanced treatment, and desalination of seawater and brackish water. However, membrane fouling poses a huge challenge that limits the development of membrane-based water treatment technologies. Characterizing the dynamics of membrane fouling is crucial for understanding its development, mechanisms, and effective mitigation. Instrumental techniques that enable in situ or real-time characterization of the dynamics of membrane fouling provide insights into the temporal and spatial evolution of fouling, which play a crucial role in understanding the fouling mechanism and the formulation of membrane control strategies. This review consolidates existing knowledge about the principal advanced instrumental analysis technologies employed to characterize the dynamics of membrane fouling, in terms of membrane structure, morphology, and intermolecular forces. Working principles, applications, and limitations of each technique are discussed, enabling researchers to select appropriate methods for their specific studies. Furthermore, prospects for the future development of dynamic characterization techniques for membrane fouling are discussed, underscoring the need for continued research and innovation in this field to overcome the challenges posed by membrane fouling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuling Liang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Kunkun Fu
- School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuesong Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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4
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Chen R, Xu D, Zhao J, Tang X, Yang H, Liang H. Effects of cations on biofilms in gravity-driven membrane system: Filtration performance and mechanism investigation. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121383. [PMID: 38432002 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The gravity-driven membrane (GDM) system is desirable for energy-efficient water treatment. However, little is known about the influence of cations on biofilm properties and GDM performance. In this study, typical cations (Ca2+ and Na+) were used to reveal the combined fouling behavior and mechanisms. Results showed that Ca2+ improved the stable flux and pollutant removal efficiency, while Na+ adversely affected the flux. Compared with GDM control, the concentration of pollutants was lower in Ca-GDM, as indicated by the low biomass, proteins, and polysaccharides. A heterogeneous and loose biofilm was observed in the Ca-GDM system, with roughness and porosity increasing by 43.06 % and 32.60 %, respectively. However, Na+ induced a homogeneous and dense biofilm, with porosity and roughness respectively reduced by 17.48 % and 22.04 %. The richness of bacterial communities increased in Ca-GDM systems, while it decreased in Na-GDM systems. High adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration in Ca-GDM system was consistent with the abundant bacteria and their high biological activity, which was helpful for the efficient removal of pollutants. The abundance of Apicomplexa, Platyhelminthes, Annelida and Nematoda increased after adding Ca2+, which was related to the formation of loose biofilms. Computational simulations indicated that the free volumes of the biofilms in Ca-GDM and Na-GDM were 13.7 and 13.2 nm3, respectively. The addition of cations changed intermolecular forces, Ca2+ induced bridging effects led to large and loose floc particles, while the significant dehydration of hydrated molecules in the Na-GDM caused obvious aggregation. Overall, microbiological characteristics and contaminant molecular interactions were the main reasons for differences in GDM systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China
| | - Daliang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Xiaobin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Haiyang Yang
- School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Heng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China.
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5
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Hu H, Xu F, Wang R, Zhou C, Li N, Shao S. Achieving zero fouling in the ultrafiltration for secondary water supply systems in the absence of residual chlorine. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121281. [PMID: 38364461 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Ultrafiltration (UF) technology is widely used in secondary water supply systems (SWSS) to provide high-quality drinking water. However, the challenge of severe membrane fouling, which leads to frequent cleaning requirements, makes UF maintenance intensive. In this study, we tried to validate the feasibility of achieving zero fouling without the need for cleaning in the UF for SWSS, i.e., the fouling resistance can be maintained for a very long time without any increase. We operated dead-end UF systems at different fluxes, both with and without residual chlorine, and monitored the formation of fouling layers during filtration. The results demonstrated the successful achievement of zero fouling under a flux of 10 L/(m2 h) in the absence of chlorine, evidenced by no increase in transmembrane pressure for three months. This zero-fouling phenomenon was attributed to the formation of a self-regulating biofouling layer. This biofouling layer could degrade the deposited foulants and featured a loose morphology, facilitated by microbial activities in the cake layer. Although residual chlorine reduced the fouling rate by half at a flux of 30 L/(m2 h), it hindered the achievement of zero fouling at the lower flux of 10 L/(m2 h), due to its inhibitory effect on microbial activity. Intermittent operation of UF was effective in achieving zero fouling at higher fluxes (e.g., 30 L/(m2 h)). This benefit was primarily ascribed to the biodegradation of accumulated foulants and the expansion of biofouling layer during the pause of the intermittent filtration, which prompted the formation of biofouling layers with loose structure and balanced composition. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to achieve zero fouling in UF for SWSS, and the findings may offer valuable insights for the development of cleaning-free and low-maintenance membrane processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhi Hu
- Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, PR China
| | - Fang Xu
- Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, PR China
| | - Rui Wang
- Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, PR China
| | - Chu Zhou
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
| | - Na Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
| | - Senlin Shao
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China.
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6
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Ranieri L, Esposito R, Nunes SP, Vrouwenvelder JS, Fortunato L. Biofilm rigidity, mechanics and composition in seawater desalination pretreatment employing ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 253:121282. [PMID: 38341976 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
The choice of appropriate biofilm control strategies in membrane systems for seawater desalination pretreatment relies on understanding the properties of the biofilm formed on the membrane. This study reveals how the biofilm composition, including both organic and inorganic, influenced the biofilm behavior under mechanical loading. The investigation was conducted on two Gravity-Driven Membrane reactors employing Microfiltration (MF) and Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane for the pretreatment of raw seawater. After a stabilization period of 20 days (Phase I), a biofilm behavior test was introduced (Phase II) to evaluate (i) biofilm deformation during the absence of permeation (i.e., relaxation) and (ii) biofilm resistance to detachment forces (i.e., air scouring). The in-situ monitoring investigation using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) revealed that the biofilms developed on MF and UF membrane presented a rigid structure in absence of filtration forces, limiting the application of relaxation and biofilm expansion necessary for cleaning. Moreover, under shear stress conditions, a higher reduction in biofilm thickness was observed for MF (-60%, from 84 to 34 µm) compared to UF (-30%, from 64 to 45 µm), leading to an increase of permeate flux (+60%, from 9.1 to 14.9 L/m2/h and +20 % from 7.8 to 9.5 L/m2/h, respectively). The rheometric analysis indicated that the biofilm developed on MF membrane had weaker mechanical strength, displaying lower storage modulus (-50 %) and lower loss modulus (-55 %) compared to UF. These differences in mechanical properties were linked to the lower concentration of polyvalent ions and the distribution of organic foulants (i.e., BB, LMW-N) found in the biofilm on the MF membrane. Moreover, in the presence of air scouring led to a slight difference in microbial community between UF and MF. Our findings provide valuable insight for future investigations aimed at engineer biofilm composition to optimize biofilm control strategies in membrane systems for seawater desalination pretreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Ranieri
- Environmental Science & Engineering Program (EnSE), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rebecca Esposito
- Environmental Science & Engineering Program (EnSE), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
| | - Suzana P Nunes
- Environmental Science & Engineering Program (EnSE), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Chemistry Program and Chemical Engineering Program, Physical Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900 Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
| | - Johannes S Vrouwenvelder
- Environmental Science & Engineering Program (EnSE), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Luca Fortunato
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; MANN+HUMMEL Water & Fluid Solutions S.p.A., Italy.
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7
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Wu X, Li Y, Su Z, Tian L, Siddique MS, Yu W. Less pressure contributes to gravity-driven membrane ultrafiltration with greater performance: Enhanced driving efficiency and reduced disinfection by-products formation potential. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 137:407-419. [PMID: 37980026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Gravity-driven membrane (GDM) systems have been well developed previously; however, impacts of driving (i.e., transmembrane) pressure on their performance received little attention, which may influence GDM performance. In this study, we evaluated 4 GDM systems via altering the transmembrane pressure from 50 mbar to 150 mbar with 2 groups, treating surface water in Beijing, China. Results showed that less driving pressure was more favorable. Specifically, compared to groups (150 mbar), groups under a pressure of 50 mbar were found to have greater normalized permeability and lower total resistance. During the whole operation period, the quality of effluents was gradually improved. For example, the removal efficiency of UV254 was significantly improved; particularly, under low driving pressure, the removal efficiency of UV254 in PES GDM system increased by 11.91%, as compared to the corresponding system under high driving pressure. This observation was consistent with the reduction on disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation potential; groups under 50 mbar achieved better DBPs potential control, indicating the advantages of lower driving pressure. Biofilms were analyzed and responsible for these differences, and distinct distributions of bacteria communities of two GDM systems under 50 and 150 mbar may be responsible for various humic-like substances removal efficiency. Overall, GDM systems under less pressure should be considered and expected to provide suggestions on the design of GDM systems in real applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Wu
- Colleges of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yufei Li
- Colleges of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhaoyang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Long Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Muhammad Saboor Siddique
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Wenzheng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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8
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Hu J, Ji B, Wang R, Shi D, Shao S. Fouling by inorganic-particle-containing cake layers can be reduced by microorganisms at low fluxes. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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9
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Gong W, Liu X, Wang J, Zhao Y, Tang X. A gravity-driven membrane bioreactor in treating the real decentralized domestic wastewater: Flux stability and membrane fouling. CHEMOSPHERE 2023:138948. [PMID: 37196796 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Domestic wastewater in decentralized sites is capturing increasing attention. However, conventional treatment technology is not sufficiently cost-effective. In this study, real domestic wastewater was treated directly using a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) at 45 mbar without backwashing or chemical cleaning, and the effects of different membrane pore sizes (0.22 μm, 0.45 μm, and 150 kDa) on flux development and contaminants removal were examined. The results showed that the flux initially decreased and then stabilized throughout long-term filtration and that the stabilized flux level of the GDMBR equipped the membranes with the pore size of 150 kDa and 0.22 μm was higher than that of 0.45 μm membrane and was in the range of 3.25-4.25 L m-2h-1. The flux stability was related to spongelike and permeable biofilm generation on the membrane surface in the GDMBR system. The presence of aeration shear on the membrane surface would cause the slough off of biofilm from the membrane surface, especially in the scenarios of GDMBR with the membrane pore size of 150 kDa and 0.22 μm, contributing to lower accumulation of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and smaller biofilm thickness compared to that of 0.45 μm membrane. Furthermore, the GDMBR system achieved efficient removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammonia, with average removal efficiencies of 60-80% and 70%. The high biological activity and microbial community diversity within the biofilm would improve its biodegradation and should be responsible for the efficient removal performance of contaminants. Interestingly, the membrane effluent could effectively retain total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Therefore, it's feasible to adopt the GDMBR process to treat the actual domestic wastewater in the decentralized locations, and these findings could be expected to develop some simple and environmentally friendly strategies for decentralized wastewater treatment with fewer inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Gong
- School of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, PR China.
| | - Xianwu Liu
- School of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, PR China
| | - Jiashuo Wang
- School of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, PR China
| | - Yuzhou Zhao
- School of Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, PR China
| | - Xiaobin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150090, PR China.
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10
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Influence of powdered activated carbon on gravity-driven ultrafiltration for decentralized drinking water treatment: Insights from microbial community and biofilm structure. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
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11
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Du X, Ma R, Xiao M, Song W, Tan Y, Wang Z, Ng AHM, Zhang W. Integrated electro-coagulation and gravity driven ceramic membrane bioreactor for roofing rainwater purification: Flux improvement and extreme operating case. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158197. [PMID: 35995152 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The collected roofing rainwater with high water quality and large water volume, can alleviate the crisis of water resources and fit the Low-Impact Development (LID) concept. In this work, a novel water purification technology, Electro-Coagulation coupled with Gravity-Driven Ceramic Membrane Bio-Reactor (EC-GDCMBR) was developed for the roofing rainwater purification under long-term operation (136 days). EC-GDCMBR system not only exhibited the better effluent quality, but also obtained the greater flux (~32 LMH). The reason contributed to the high permeability of ceramic membrane and large porosity of biofilm formed by floc growth (~36 μm) during the EC process, which was also proved by SEM image. The coagulation, adsorption, biodegradation, and coprecipitation of EC-GDCMBR was able to synergistically remove the particulate matter, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), Total Phosphorus (TP), organic substances, and heavy metal (i.e., Cr, Zn, and Cu). In particular, via the analysis of bacterial abundance, Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS), Assimilable Organic Carbon (AOC), Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), EC could sweep most free bacteria on the ceramic membrane surface, enhancing the biological purification efficiency. Furthermore, a large amount of Pseudomonas (12.4 %-66.7 %) and Nitrospira (1.46 %-3.16 %) in the aggregates formed the biofilms, improved the NH3-N removal. During the long-term operation, there are some unavoidable problems, such as the thick and ripened biofilm of EC-GDCMBR would crack and fall off. Based on this, the current work also studied the reliability of GDCMBR under "extreme operating case", and the results showed that neither the biofilm detachment nor the biofilm breakup had a significant impact on the effluent quality. Overall, the findings of this study suggest the reliability of EC-GDCMBR for the sustainable operation of roofing rainwater purification and improve the application value of decentralized rainwater harvest device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Du
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Rong Ma
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Mengyao Xiao
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Wei Song
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yingshi Tan
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Zhihong Wang
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Alex Hay-Man Ng
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia; Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Wenxiang Zhang
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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12
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New insight into hydrodynamic and cake erosion mechanism during rotating-disk dynamic microfiltration of concentrated bentonite suspensions at different salinity conditions. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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13
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Shi D, Gong T, Qing W, Li X, Shao S. Unique Behaviors and Mechanism of Highly Soluble Salt-Induced Wetting in Membrane Distillation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14788-14796. [PMID: 36154007 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Scaling-induced wettinggreatly limits the application of membrane distillation (MD) for the desalination of high-salinity feed. Although highly soluble salts (e.g., NaCl) have high concentrations in this water, their scaling-induced wetting remains overlooked. To unravel the elusive wetting behaviors of highly soluble salts, in this study, we systematically investigated the scaling formation and wetting progress by in situ observation with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Through examining the influence of salt type and vapor flux on the wetting behavior, we revealed that highly soluble salt-induced wetting, especially under high vapor flux, shared several unique features: (1) occurring before the bulk feed reached saturation, (2) no scale layer formation observed, and (3) synchronized wetting progress on the millimeter scale. We demonstrated that a moving scale layer caused these interesting phenomena. The initial high vapor flux induced high concentration and temperature polarizations, which led to crystallization at the gas-liquid interface and the formation of an initial scale layer. On the one hand, this scale layer bridged the water into the hydrophobic pores; on the other hand, it blocked the membrane pores and reduced the vapor flux. In this way, the decreased vapor flux mitigated the concentration/temperature polarizations, and consequently led to the dissolution of the feed-facing side of the scale layer. This dissolution prevented the membrane pores from being completely blocked, facilitating the transportation and crystallization of salts at the distillate-facing side of the scale layer (i.e., the gas-liquid interface), thus the proceeding of the wetting layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danting Shi
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Tengjing Gong
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Weihua Qing
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Xianhui Li
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Senlin Shao
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
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14
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Ranieri L, Vrouwenvelder JS, Fortunato L. Periodic fouling control strategies in gravity-driven membrane bioreactors (GD-MBRs): Impact on treatment performance and membrane fouling properties. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156340. [PMID: 35654208 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to assess the effects of periodic membrane fouling control strategies in Gravity-Driven Membrane Bioreactor (GD-MBR) treating primary wastewater. The impact of each control strategy on the reactor performance (permeate flux and water quality), biomass morphology, and fouling composition were evaluated. The application of air scouring coupled with intermittent filtration resulted in the highest permeate flux (4 LMH) compared to only intermittent filtration (i.e., relaxation) (1 LMH) and air scouring under continuous filtration (2.5 LMH). Air scouring coupled with relaxation led to a thin (~50 μm) but with more porous fouling layer and low hydraulic resistance, presenting the lowest concentration of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in the biomass. Air scouring under continuous filtration led to a thin (~50 μm), dense, compact, and less porous fouling layer with the highest specific hydraulic resistance. The employment of only relaxation led to the highest fouling formation (~280 μm) on the membrane surface. The highest TN removal (~62%) was achieved in the reactor with only relaxation (no aeration) due to the anoxic condition in the filtration tank, while the highest COD removal (~ 60%) was achieved with air scouring under continuous filtration due to the longer aeration time and the denser fouling layer. The results highlighted the importance of performing in-depth fouling characterization to link the membrane fouling properties to the hydraulic resistance and membrane bioreactor performances (i.e., water quality and water production). Moreover, this work proven the versatility of the GD-MBR, where the choice of the appropriate operation and fouling control strategy relies on the eventual discharge or reuse of the treated effluent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Ranieri
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Johannes S Vrouwenvelder
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Luca Fortunato
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological & Environmental Science & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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15
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Hube S, Lee S, Chong TH, Brynjólfsson S, Wu B. Biocarriers facilitated gravity-driven membrane filtration of domestic wastewater in cold climate: Combined effect of temperature and periodic cleaning. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155248. [PMID: 35427614 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, two lava stone biocarrier facilitated gravity-driven membrane (GDM) reactors were operated at ~8 °C and ~22 °C in parallel for treating primary wastewater effluent. Although the biocarrier reactor at 8 °C displayed less efficient removals of biodegradable organics than that at 22 °C, both GDM systems (without cleaning) showed comparable fouling resistance distribution patterns, accompanying with similar cake filtration constants and pore constriction constants by modelling simulation. Compared to the GDM at 8 °C, more foulants were accumulated on the GDM at 22 °C, but they presented similar soluble organics/inorganics contents and specific cake resistances. This indicated the cake layers at 22 °C may contain greater-sized foulants due to proliferation of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, leading to a relatively less-porous nature. In the presence of periodic cleaning (at 50 °C), the cleaning effectiveness followed a sequence as ultrasonication-enhanced physical cleaning > two-phase flow cleaning > chemical-enhanced physical cleaning > physical cleaning, regardless of GDM operation temperature. However, significantly higher cake resistances were observed in the GDM system at 22 °C than those at 8 °C, because shear force tended to remove loosely-attached foulant layers and may compress the residual dense cake layer. The presence of periodic cleaning led to dissimilar dominant prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities in the cake layers as those without cleaning and in the lava stone biocarriers. Nevertheless, operation temperature did not influence GDM permeate quality, which met EU discharge standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selina Hube
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Seonki Lee
- Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One 06-08, S637141, Singapore; Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Busan 49112, Republic of Korea
| | - Tzyy Haur Chong
- Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One 06-08, S637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, S639798, Singapore
| | - Sigurður Brynjólfsson
- Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Bing Wu
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Hjardarhagi 2-6, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland.
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16
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Bilad MR, Junaeda SR, Khery Y, Nufida BA, Shamsuddin N, Usman A, Violet V. Compaction of a Polymeric Membrane in Ultra-Low-Pressure Water Filtration. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14163254. [PMID: 36015511 PMCID: PMC9416213 DOI: 10.3390/polym14163254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Applications of ultra-low-pressure filtration systems are increasing as they offer enhanced sustainability due to lower energy input, almost no use of chemicals, and minimum operational expenditure. In many cases, they operate as a decentralized system using a gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration process. These applications are relatively new; hence, the fundamental knowledge of the process is still limited. In this study, we investigated the phenomenon of polymeric membrane compaction under an ultra-low-pressure system. The compaction phenomenon is well-recognized in the traditional pressure-driven system operating at high transmembrane pressures (ΔPs > 200 kPa), but it is less documented in ultra-low-pressure systems (ΔP < 10 kPa). A simple GDM filtration setup operated under a constant-pressure system was employed to investigate the compaction phenomena in a polymeric hollow fiber membrane for clean water filtration. Firstly, a short-term pressure stepping test was performed to investigate the occurrence of instantaneous compaction in the ΔP range of 1−10 kPa. The slow compaction was later investigated. Finally, the compaction dynamic was assessed under alternating high and low ΔP and relaxation in between the filtrations. The findings demonstrated the prominence of membrane compaction, as shown by the decreasing trend in clean water permeability at higher ΔPs (i.e., 3240 and 2401 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 at ΔPs of 1 and 10 kPa, respectively). We also found that the intrinsic permeability of the applied polymeric membrane was significantly higher than the apparent one (4351 vs. 2401 L m−2 h−1 bar−1), demonstrating >50% loss due to compaction. The compaction was mainly instantaneous, which occurred when the ΔP was changed, whereas only minor changes in permeability occurred over time when operating at a constant ΔP. The compaction was highly reversible and could be restored (i.e., decompaction) through relaxation by temporarily stopping the filtration. A small fraction of irreversible compaction could be detected by operating alternating filtrations under ΔPs of 1 and 10 kPa. The overall findings are essential to support emerging GDM filtration applications, in which membrane compaction has been ignored and confounded with membrane fouling. The role of compaction is more prominent for high-flux GDM filtration systems treating less-fouling-prone feed (i.e., rainwater, river water) and involving membrane cleaning (i.e., relaxation) in which both reversible and irreversible compaction occurred simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Roil Bilad
- Faculty of Applied Science and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Jl. Pemuda No. 59A, Mataram 83126, Indonesia
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
- Correspondence:
| | - Siti Rahma Junaeda
- Faculty of Applied Science and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Jl. Pemuda No. 59A, Mataram 83126, Indonesia
| | - Yusran Khery
- Faculty of Applied Science and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Jl. Pemuda No. 59A, Mataram 83126, Indonesia
| | - Baiq Asma Nufida
- Faculty of Applied Science and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Jl. Pemuda No. 59A, Mataram 83126, Indonesia
| | - Norazanita Shamsuddin
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
| | - Anwar Usman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Bandar Seri Begawan BE1410, Brunei
| | - Violet Violet
- Faculty of Forestry, Lambung Mangkurat University, Jl. A. Yani KM. 36, Banjarbaru 70714, Indonesia
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17
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Chen M, Nan J, Xu Y, Yao J, Wang H, Zu X. Effect of microplastics on the physical structure of cake layer for pre-coagulated gravity-driven membrane filtration. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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18
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Stoffel D, Rigo E, Derlon N, Staaks C, Heijnen M, Morgenroth E, Jacquin C. Low maintenance gravity-driven membrane filtration using hollow fibers: Effect of reducing space for biofilm growth and control strategies on permeate flux. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:152307. [PMID: 34914997 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of centralized drinking water treatment systems necessitates lower operational costs and improved biopolymer removal during ultrafiltration (UF), which can be afforded by gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration. However, prior to implementing GDM filtration in centralized systems, biofilm growth in compacted membrane configurations, such as inside-out hollow fiber (HF), and its impact on permeate flux need to be investigated. To this end, we operated modules with distinct limits on available space for biofilm growth: (1) outside-in 1.5 mm 7-capillary HF (non-limited), (2) inside-out 1.5 mm 7-capillary HF (limited), and (3) inside-out 0.9 mm 7-capillary HF (very limited). Here, we observed that the lower the space available for biofilm growth, the lower the permeate flux. To improve GDM performance with inside-out HF, we applied daily shear stress to the biofilm surface with forward flush (FF) or combined relaxation and forward flush (R+FF). We showed that applying shear stress to the biofilm surface was insufficient for controlling flux loss due to low available space for biofilm growth. At the experimental endpoint, we backwashed with a stepwise transmembrane pressure (TMP) increase or a single TMP on all inside-out HF modules, which removed the biofilm from its base. Afterwards, higher fluxes were yielded. We also showed that all modules exhibited a gradual increase in biopolymer removal followed by stabilization between 70 and 90%. Additionally, control of biofilm growth with surface shear stress did not affect biopolymer removal. In summary, the implementation of inside-out HF with GDM filtration is challenged by low available space for biofilm growth, but may be remedied with a regular backwash to remove biofilm from its base. We showed that a wider range of GDM applications are available; making GDM potentially compatible with implementation in centralized systems, if space limitation is taken into consideration for operation optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Stoffel
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Elvira Rigo
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Derlon
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Eberhard Morgenroth
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zürich, Institute of Environmental Engineering, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Céline Jacquin
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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19
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Iron amended gravity-driven membrane (IGDM) system for heavy-metal-containing groundwater treatment. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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20
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Desmond P, Huisman KT, Sanawar H, Farhat NM, Traber J, Fridjonsson EO, Johns ML, Flemming HC, Picioreanu C, Vrouwenvelder JS. Controlling the hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms by engineering biofilm physical structure. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 210:118031. [PMID: 34998071 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.118031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The application of membrane technology for water treatment and reuse is hampered by the development of a microbial biofilm. Biofilm growth in micro-and ultrafiltration (MF/UF) membrane modules, on both the membrane surface and feed spacer, can form a secondary membrane and exert resistance to permeation and crossflow, increasing energy demand and decreasing permeate quantity and quality. In recent years, exhaustive efforts were made to understand the chemical, structural and hydraulic characteristics of membrane biofilms. In this review, we critically assess which specific structural features of membrane biofilms exert resistance to forced water passage in MF/UF membranes systems applied to water and wastewater treatment, and how biofilm physical structure can be engineered by process operation to impose less hydraulic resistance ("below-the-pain threshold"). Counter-intuitively, biofilms with greater thickness do not always cause a higher hydraulic resistance than thinner biofilms. Dense biofilms, however, had consistently higher hydraulic resistances compared to less dense biofilms. The mechanism by which density exerts hydraulic resistance is reported in the literature to be dependant on the biofilms' internal packing structure and EPS chemical composition (e.g., porosity, polymer concentration). Current reports of internal porosity in membrane biofilms are not supported by adequate experimental evidence or by a reliable methodology, limiting a unified understanding of biofilm internal structure. Identifying the dependency of hydraulic resistance on biofilm density invites efforts to control the hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms by engineering internal biofilm structure. Regulation of biofilm internal structure is possible by alteration of key determinants such as feed water nutrient composition/concentration, hydraulic shear stress and resistance and can engineer biofilm structural development to decrease density and therein hydraulic resistance. Future efforts should seek to determine the extent to which the concept of "biofilm engineering" can be extended to other biofilm parameters such as mechanical stability and the implication for biofilm control/removal in engineered water systems (e.g., pipelines and/or, cooling towers) susceptible to biofouling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Desmond
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Strasse 1, D52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Kees Theo Huisman
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huma Sanawar
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadia M Farhat
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jacqueline Traber
- Department of Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Einar O Fridjonsson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Michael L Johns
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Hans-Curt Flemming
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore; Biofilm Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany; IWW Water Centre, Moritzstrasse 26, 45476, Muelheim, Germany
| | - Cristian Picioreanu
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Johannes S Vrouwenvelder
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, Netherlands
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21
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Jiang H, Wang P, Zhao Q, Wang Z, Sun X, Chen M, Han B, Ma J. Enhanced water permeance and antifouling performance of gravity-driven ultrafiltration membrane with in-situ formed rigid pore structure. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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22
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Liu W, Yang K, Qu F, Liu B. A moderate activated sulfite pre-oxidation on ultrafiltration treatment of algae-laden water: Fouling mitigation, organic rejection, cell integrity and cake layer property. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.120102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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23
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Effects of Filtration Mode on the Performance of Gravity-Driven Membrane (GDM) Filtration: Cross-Flow Filtration and Dead-End Filtration. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration technology has been extensively in the employed drinking water treatment, however, the effect filtration mode (i.e., dead-end mode vs. cross-flow mode) on its long-term performance has not been systematically investigated. In this study, pilot-scale GDM systems were operated using two submerged filtration mode (SGDM) and cross-flow mode (CGDM) at the gravity-driven pressures 120 mbar and 200 mbar, respectively. The results showed that flux stabilization was observed both in the SGDM and CGDM during long-term filtration, and importantly the stabilized flux level of CGDM was elevated by 3.5–67.5%, which indicated that the filtration mode would not influence the occurrence of flux stability, but significantly improve the stable flux level. Interestingly, the stable flux level was not significantly improved with the increase of driven pressure, and the optimized driven pressure was 120 mbar. In addition, the GDM process conferred effective removals of turbidity, UV254, CODMn, and DOC, with average removals of 99%, 43%, 41%, and 20%, respectively. With the assistance of cross flow to avert the overaccumulation of contaminants on the membrane surface, CGDM process exhibited even higher removal efficiency than SGDM process. Furthermore, it can be found that the CGDM system can effectively remove the fluorescent protein-like substances, and the intensities of tryptophans substance and soluble microbial products were reduced by 64.61% and 55.08%, respectively, higher than that of the SGDM. Therefore, it can be determined that the filtration mode played an important role in the flux stabilization of GDM system during long-term filtration, and the cross-flow filtration mode can simultaneously improve the stabilized flux level and removal performance.
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24
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Qin Q, Cheng Z, Jia H, Cui Z, Yang G, Sun M, Wang J. Assessment of hydraulic performance and fouling control caused by pulse flow in hollow fiber membrane module. AIChE J 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.17580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Material Science and Engineering TianGong University Tianjin China
| | - Zhiyang Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Material Science and Engineering TianGong University Tianjin China
| | - Hui Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering TianGong University Tianjin China
| | - Zhao Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering TianGong University Tianjin China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin China
| | - Min Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering TianGong University Tianjin China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes TianGong University Tianjin China
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering TianGong University Tianjin China
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25
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Shao S, Shi D, Hu J, Qing W, Li X, Li X, Ji B, Yang Z, Guo H, Tang CY. Unraveling the Kinetics and Mechanism of Surfactant-Induced Wetting in Membrane Distillation: An In Situ Observation with Optical Coherence Tomography. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:556-563. [PMID: 34928146 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we performed a direct contact membrane distillation and successfully demonstrated the non-invasive imaging of surfactant-induced wetting using optical coherence tomography. This method enabled us to investigate the wetting kinetics, which was found to follow a "three-region" relationship between the wetting rate and surfactant concentration: the (i) nonwetted region, (ii) concentration-dependent region, and (iii) concentration-independent region at low, intermediate, and high surfactant concentrations, respectively. This wetting behavior was explained by the "autophilic effect", i.e., the wetting was caused by the transfer of surfactants from the water-vapor interface to the unwetted membrane and rendered this membrane hydrophilic, and then the wetting frontier moved forward under capillary forces. At region-(i), the surfactant concentration in the water-vapor interface (Clv) was too low to make the unwetted membrane sufficiently hydrophilic; thereby, the membrane could not be wetted. At region-(ii), due to the fast adsorption of the surfactant on the newly wetted membrane, the wetting rate was determined by the advection/diffusion of surfactants from the feed stream. Consequently, the wetting rate increased with the increases in the water flux and surfactant concentration. At region-(iii), the advection/diffusion provided excess surfactants for adsorption, and thus Clv reached its upper limit (maximum surface excess) and the wetting rate leveled off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Shao
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Danting Shi
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Jiangshuai Hu
- Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, PR China
| | - Weihua Qing
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Xianhui Li
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xue Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Bin Ji
- Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, PR China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hao Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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26
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Guo H, Li X, Yang W, Yao Z, Mei Y, Peng LE, Yang Z, Shao S, Tang CY. Nanofiltration for drinking water treatment: a review. Front Chem Sci Eng 2021; 16:681-698. [PMID: 34849269 PMCID: PMC8617557 DOI: 10.1007/s11705-021-2103-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, nanofiltration (NF) is considered as a promising separation technique to produce drinking water from different types of water source. In this paper, we comprehensively reviewed the progress of NF-based drinking water treatment, through summarizing the development of materials/fabrication and applications of NF membranes in various scenarios including surface water treatment, groundwater treatment, water reuse, brackish water treatment, and point of use applications. We not only summarized the removal of target major pollutants (e.g., hardness, pathogen, and natural organic matter), but also paid attention to the removal of micropollutants of major concern (e.g., disinfection byproducts, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and arsenic). We highlighted that, for different applications, fit-for-purpose design is needed to improve the separation capability for target compounds of NF membranes in addition to their removal of salts. Outlook and perspectives on membrane fouling control, chlorine resistance, integrity, and selectivity are also discussed to provide potential insights for future development of high-efficiency NF membranes for stable and reliable drinking water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Guo
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology (MembEST) Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xianhui Li
- Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Wulin Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Zhikan Yao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China
| | - Ying Mei
- Research and Development Center for Watershed Environmental Eco-Engineering, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519087 China
| | - Lu Elfa Peng
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology (MembEST) Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology (MembEST) Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Senlin Shao
- School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Chuyang Y Tang
- Membrane-based Environmental & Sustainable Technology (MembEST) Group, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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García-Pacheco R, Li Q, Comas J, Taylor RA, Le-Clech P. Novel housing designs for nanofiltration and ultrafiltration gravity-driven recycled membrane-based systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 767:144181. [PMID: 33450590 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ultra-low pressure gravity-driven membrane (GDM) systems have the potential to be significantly less costly and complex than conventional membranes for water treatment applications. To build upon this inherent advantage, this study assesses the reuse of recycled membranes in GDM systems for producing drinking water. Two reverse osmosis spiral-wound modules were recycled into nanofiltration (NF)-like and ultrafiltration (UF)-like membranes via controlled exposure to free chlorine. To operate the recycled membranes, two housing devices, based on a simple fitting and an advanced end-caps design, were developed. The recycled membrane systems were tested under a range of conditions (submerged vs. external system configuration and continuous vs. intermittent filtration mode). Synthetic river water feed solutions were used in the tests where performance, fouling, and clogging were measured. NF-like recycled membranes resulted in poor salt rejection and low permeability (~1.7 L m-2 h-1 bar-1), but also in high rejection (>81%) of dissolved organic carbon. UF-like recycled membranes maintained their capacity to reject biopolymers (BP) (>74%) and featured up to 18-fold higher permeate rate than NF-like recycled membranes. The optimized operating conditions were found when the recycled membranes were housed in the end-caps device and operated intermittently (relaxation time plus forward flushing). Flushing reduced the fouling accumulation inside the membrane (only 12% and 40% of BP accumulation was observed in the NF-like and UF-like, respectively). However, the end-caps-based device was estimated to be more expensive during the economic analysis. To address this techno-economic trade-off, a decision-making tree was developed to select the appropriate configuration based upon the implementation context. Overall, this study concludes that these designs can serve as robust, low-cost (water production cost <1 USD ct. yr. L-1), and light-weight GDM alternatives. This study is beneficial for developing compact GDM systems based on recycled spiral-wound membranes for both rural areas and emergency response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel García-Pacheco
- LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona Campus Montilivi, carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain; UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia; IMDEA Water Institute, Avenida Punto Com. n°2. 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Qiyuan Li
- UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Joaquim Comas
- LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona Campus Montilivi, carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Robert A Taylor
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Pierre Le-Clech
- UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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