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Cairone S, Hasan SW, Choo KH, Li CW, Zarra T, Belgiorno V, Naddeo V. Integrating artificial intelligence modeling and membrane technologies for advanced wastewater treatment: Research progress and future perspectives. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 944:173999. [PMID: 38879019 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Membrane technologies have become proficient alternatives for advanced wastewater treatment, ensuring high contaminant removal and sustainable resource recovery. Despite significant progress, ongoing research efforts aim to further optimize treatment performance. Among the challenges faced, membrane fouling persists as a relevant obstacle in membrane technologies, necessitating the development of more effective mitigation strategies. Mathematical models, widely employed for predicting treatment performance, generally exhibit low accuracy and suffer from uncertainties due to the complex and variable nature of wastewater. To overcome these limitations, numerous studies have proposed artificial intelligence (AI) modeling to accurately predict membrane technologies' performance and fouling mechanisms. This approach aims to provide advanced simulations and predictions, thereby enhancing process control, optimization, and intensification. This literature review explores recent advancements in modeling membrane-based wastewater treatment processes through AI models. The analysis highlights the enormous potential of this research field in enhancing the efficiency of membrane technologies. The role of AI modeling in defining optimal operating conditions, developing effective strategies for membrane fouling mitigation, enhancing the performance of novel membrane-based technologies, and improving membrane fabrication techniques is discussed. These enhanced process optimization and control strategies driven by AI modeling ensure improved effluent quality, optimized resource consumption, and minimized operating costs. The potential contribution of this cutting-edge approach to a paradigm shift toward sustainable wastewater treatment is examined. Finally, this review outlines future perspectives, emphasizing the research challenges that require attention to overcome the current limitations hindering the integration of AI modeling in wastewater treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cairone
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II #132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Shadi W Hasan
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO, Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kwang-Ho Choo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University (KNU), 80 Daehak-ro, Bukgu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi-Wang Li
- Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Tamkang University, 151 Yingzhuan Road Tamsui District, New Taipei City 25137, Taiwan
| | - Tiziano Zarra
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II #132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Belgiorno
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II #132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Naddeo
- Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II #132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.
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Rizki Z, Ottens M. Model-based optimization approaches for pressure-driven membrane systems. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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AlSawaftah N, Abuwatfa W, Darwish N, Husseini GA. A Review on Membrane Biofouling: Prediction, Characterization, and Mitigation. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12121271. [PMID: 36557178 PMCID: PMC9787789 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Water scarcity is an increasing problem on every continent, which instigated the search for novel ways to provide clean water suitable for human use; one such way is desalination. Desalination refers to the process of purifying salts and contaminants to produce water suitable for domestic and industrial applications. Due to the high costs and energy consumption associated with some desalination techniques, membrane-based technologies have emerged as a promising alternative water treatment, due to their high energy efficiency, operational simplicity, and lower cost. However, membrane fouling is a major challenge to membrane-based separation as it has detrimental effects on the membrane's performance and integrity. Based on the type of accumulated foulants, fouling can be classified into particulate, organic, inorganic, and biofouling. Biofouling is considered the most problematic among the four fouling categories. Therefore, proper characterization and prediction of biofouling are essential for creating efficient control and mitigation strategies to minimize the damage associated with biofouling. Moreover, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting membrane fouling has garnered a great deal of attention due to its adaptive capability and prediction accuracy. This paper presents an overview of the membrane biofouling mechanisms, characterization techniques, and predictive methods with a focus on AI-based techniques, and mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour AlSawaftah
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Waad Abuwatfa
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naif Darwish
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ghaleb A. Husseini
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence:
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Galinha CF, Crespo JG. Development and Implementation of MBR Monitoring: Use of 2D Fluorescence Spectroscopy. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:1218. [PMID: 36557125 PMCID: PMC9783007 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The monitoring of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) requires the assessment of both biological and membrane performance. Additionally, the development of membrane fouling and the requirements for frequent membrane cleaning are still major concerns during MBR operation, requiring tight monitoring and system characterization. Transmembrane pressure is usually monitored online and allows following the evolution of membrane performance. However, it does not allow distinguishing the fouling mechanisms occurring in the system or predicting the future behavior of the membrane. The assessment of the biological medium requires manual sampling, and the analyses involve several steps that are labor-intensive, with low temporal resolution, preventing real-time monitoring. Two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy is a comprehensive technique, able to assess the system status at real-time without disturbing the biological system. It provides large sets of data (system fingerprints) from which meaningful information can be extracted. Nevertheless, mathematical data analysis (such as machine learning) is essential to properly extract the information contained in fluorescence spectra and correlate it with operating and performance parameters. The potential of 2D fluorescence spectroscopy as a process monitoring tool for MBRs is, therefore, discussed in the present work in view of the actual knowledge and the authors' own experience in this field.
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Lejarazu-Larrañaga A, Landaburu-Aguirre J, Senán-Salinas J, Ortiz JM, Molina S. Thin Film Composite Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membrane Technology towards a Circular Economy. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12090864. [PMID: 36135883 PMCID: PMC9502371 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12090864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
It is estimated that Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination will produce, by 2025, more than 2,000,000 end-of-life membranes annually worldwide. This review examines the implementation of circular economy principles in RO technology through a comprehensive analysis of the RO membrane life cycle (manufacturing, usage, and end-of-life management). Future RO design should incorporate a biobased composition (biopolymers, recycled materials, and green solvents), improve the durability of the membranes (fouling and chlorine resistance), and facilitate the recyclability of the modules. Moreover, proper membrane maintenance at the usage phase, attained through the implementation of feed pre-treatment, early fouling detection, and membrane cleaning methods can help extend the service time of RO elements. Currently, end-of-life membranes are dumped in landfills, which is contrary to the waste hierarchy. This review analyses up to now developed alternative valorisation routes of end-of-life RO membranes, including reuse, direct and indirect recycling, and energy recovery, placing a special focus on emerging indirect recycling strategies. Lastly, Life Cycle Assessment is presented as a holistic methodology to evaluate the environmental and economic burdens of membrane recycling strategies. According to the European Commission's objectives set through the Green Deal, future perspectives indicate that end-of-life membrane valorisation strategies will keep gaining increasing interest in the upcoming years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jorge Senán-Salinas
- BETA Tech. Center, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Ctra. de Roda, 70, 08500 Vic, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Ortiz
- IMDEA Water Institute, Avenida Punto Com, 2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
| | - Serena Molina
- IMDEA Water Institute, Avenida Punto Com, 2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
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