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Gao K, Yang Y, Li A, Pu J, Takizawa S, Graham NJD, Hou LA. Fouling behavior of BTEX in petrochemical wastewater treated by nanofiltration (NF). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135185. [PMID: 39013320 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Membrane fouling generated by small molecular-weight aromatic compounds with poor biodegradability is a major barrier to advanced petrochemical wastewater treatment using nanofiltration (NF) technology. In this study, the fouling behavior of ten BTEX with different substituent existing in petrochemical wastewater on the NF membrane was systematically investigated. By examining the effect of the number, position, and type of substituents on the permeability of NF membranes and membrane resistance analysis, combined with XDLVO theory and correlation analysis, we found that stronger dipole-dipole interactions of BTEX with higher polarity and hydrogen bonding effects between substituents and the membrane surface were verified to be the main forces driving the attachment to the surface of membranes. Furthermore, by analyzing the effect of common inorganic ions in petrochemical wastewater on membrane fouling, it was found that electron-donating substituents (-CH3, -C2H5, and -NH2) enhanced the electron cloud density of the benzene ring, a process that exacerbated membrane fouling by strengthening electrostatic interactions between the benzene ring and Ca2+ ions. The fouling potential of electron-withdrawing substituted (-NO2, -OH) BTEX exhibited the opposite trend. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for developing effective membrane fouling control strategies in NF advanced treatment of petrochemical wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Aromatic chemicals in petrochemical effluent are difficult to degrade, and their accumulation will cause significant harm to humans and ecological systems. Determine the composition of small molecule BTEX in petrochemical wastewater, gain an in-depth comprehension of the membrane fouling behavior of nanofiltration membrane filtration, identify the primary forces causing irreversible membrane surface fouling using experimental data and model fitting, and propose viable anti-fouling membrane modification strategies. Establish a technical foundation for membrane fouling management in the long-term operation of petrochemical wastewater membrane treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Ao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jian Pu
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University, Jingumae 5-53-70, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan; Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takizawa
- Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Nigel J D Graham
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Li-An Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
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Wang X, Guo Y, Li Y, Ma Z, Li Q, Wang Q, Xu D, Gao J, Gao X, Sun H. Molecular level unveils anion exchange membrane fouling induced by natural organic matter via XDLVO and molecular simulation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170272. [PMID: 38266735 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Membrane fouling, critically determined by the interplay of interfacial interaction between foulant and membrane, is a critical impediment that limits application extension of electrodialysis (ED) process. In this study, the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) model and molecular simulation were performed to quantify the interaction energy barrier for revealing anion exchange membranes (AEMs) fouling mechanisms of calcium ions coexisted with natural organic matter (NOM) (sodium alginate, humic acid, and bovine serum albumin). The insight gained from DMol3 module was also utilized to interpret the adhesion process of NOM at the molecular level. The interaction energy suggested that the presence of Ca-NOM complex magnify the adhesion on the surface cavities of AEMs structures. The molecular simulation and XDLVO presented a good agreement in predicting the fouling trajectory based on the experimental findings. The short-path acid-base interaction exerted a predominant influence on exploring the fouling formation process. In addition, the sodium alginate displayed more stable adhesion behavior through calcium ions bridges stimuli than humic acid and bovine serum albumin. In particular, the molecular simulation calculations exhibited a superior level of concurrence with colloid growth of membrane fouling. Combined XDLVO theory with DMol3 model proposed a new approach to understand membrane fouling mechanisms in ED process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China
| | - Yanyan Guo
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanxin Li
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China
| | - Zhun Ma
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China.
| | - Qing Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, De Zhou University, De Zhou 253023, Shandong, China
| | - Qun Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China
| | - Dongmei Xu
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China.
| | - Jun Gao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China
| | - Xueli Gao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
| | - Hui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
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Bai S, Han J, Ao N, Ya R, Ding W. Scaling and cleaning of silica scales on reverse osmosis membrane: Effective removal and degradation mechanisms utilizing gallic acid. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141427. [PMID: 38368964 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141427] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Silica scaling on membranes represents one of the most important issues in industrial water systems because of its complex composition and difficulty in removal. However, there is a lack of understanding of the mechanisms for cleaning silica scales from reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. To address this research gap, this study investigated the scaling and cleaning behavior of silica on RO membrane processes, with a specific focus on the silica scale cleaning mechanism using gallic acid (GA). The membrane flux continuously decreased with operation time, even at the lowest initial silicic acid concentration, owing to silica scale blockage. The GA solution exhibited a strong efficacy in cleaning silica-scaling RO membranes. The membrane flux returned to 89.7% of the initial value by removing 81.87% of the silica scale within the first 30 min of the study period. The cleaning mechanism of GA involved its adsorption onto the surface of silica scale particles to form a surface complex and subsequently transition into a water-soluble 1:3 complex within the solution. This complex interaction facilitated the gradual decomposition of the silica scales that adhered to the membrane surface. This study has valuable implications for the development of efficient and effective silica scale cleaning solutions, providing insights into the complex interplay between GA and silica scaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqin Bai
- Green Intelligence Environmental School, Yangtze Normal University, No. 16 Juxian Road, Fuling, Chongqing, 408100, PR China.
| | - Jue Han
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, No.38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Niqi Ao
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200241, PR China
| | - Ru Ya
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Waste Resource Recycle, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, No. 235 West University Road, Saihan District, Hohhot, 010021, PR China
| | - Wei Ding
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Waste Resource Recycle, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, No. 235 West University Road, Saihan District, Hohhot, 010021, PR China
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Farahbakhsh J, Golgoli M, Khiadani M, Najafi M, Suwaileh W, Razmjou A, Zargar M. Recent advances in surface tailoring of thin film forward osmosis membranes: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140493. [PMID: 37890801 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140493] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The recent advancements in fabricating forward osmosis (FO) membranes have shown promising results in desalination and water treatment. Different methods have been applied to improve FO performance, such as using mixed or new draw solutions, enhancing the recovery of draw solutions, membrane modification, and developing FO-hybrid systems. However, reliable methods to address the current issues, including reverse salt flux, fouling, and antibacterial activities, are still in progress. In recent decades, surface modification has been applied to different membrane processes, including FO membranes. Introducing nanochannels, bioparticles, new monomers, and hydrophilic-based materials to the surface layer of FO membranes has significantly impacted their performance and efficiency and resulted in better control over fouling and concentration polarization (CP) in these membranes. This review critically investigates the recent developments in FO membrane processes and fabrication techniques for FO surface-layer modification. In addition, this study focuses on the latest materials and structures used for the surface modification of FO membranes. Finally, the current challenges, gaps, and suggestions for future studies in this field have been discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Farahbakhsh
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Mitra Golgoli
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Mehdi Khiadani
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Mohadeseh Najafi
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Wafa Suwaileh
- Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Amir Razmjou
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), City Campus, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia; Mineral Recovery Research Center (MRRC), School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Masoumeh Zargar
- School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia; Mineral Recovery Research Center (MRRC), School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Perth, WA, 6027, Australia.
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