Print Email Facebook Twitter The synergistic fouling of ceramic membranes by particles and natural organic matter fractions using different surface waters in South Africa Title The synergistic fouling of ceramic membranes by particles and natural organic matter fractions using different surface waters in South Africa Author Moyo, Welldone (University of South Africa) Chaukura, Nhamo (University of South Africa; Sol Plaatje University) Motsa, Machawe M. (University of South Africa) Mthombeni, Nomcebo H. (University of South Africa) Msagati, Titus A.M. (University of South Africa) Mamba, Bhekie B. (University of South Africa) Heijman, Sebastiaan (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering) Nkambule, Thabo T.I. (University of South Africa) Date 2021 Abstract This study demonstrates the fundamental differences in fouling development and mechanisms of unfiltered and 0.45 µm pre-filtered water samples on ceramic membranes. Robust characterization of the feed waters was conducted using gravimetric analysis, optical methods and modeling techniques. UV254 removal and suspended solids (SS) for the unfiltered samples presented a strong correlation (R2 = 0.87). Further, SS exhibited strong correlations with fluorescent fractions (R2 = 0.82; 0.81 and 0.74 for C1; C2 and C3, respectively). This observation confirmed the significance of inorganic particles in the development of a combined fouling layer with fluorescent organic components. The fouling development rate for water sampled from Plattenburg Bay (PL) was higher than the rest of the 0.45 µm pre-filtered samples. This was attributed to the low conductivity (175 µS.m-1) of the water sample, translating to a low ionic strength environment. Samples collected from Hermanus River (HL) and Lepelle River (OL) had similar SS quantity (87.6 mg/L and 88.4 mg/L, respectively), and modified fouling index (MFI) values for raw samples were 6625 and 8060 s/L2, respectively, despite a very large difference in the content of organic matter (22.67 mg/L.C and 9.81 mg/L.C). This could be due to organic matter attaching onto the surface of particles and reducing the adsorption of NOM within membrane pores and/or onto the membrane active layer. This study demonstrated the extent of in situ background electrolytes, foulant concentration, foulant-foulant interactions, foulant-membrane interaction and physicochemical properties of feed stream on fouling development and mechanisms. Subject Fluorescent organic matterMembrane fouling resistanceModified fouling indexParticulate organic matterSynergistic fouling To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:61755c8c-c1e4-4f36-a898-569ff9c57650 DOI https://doi.org/10.22079/JMSR.2020.127635.1384 Source Journal of Membrane Science and Research, 7 (2), 125-137 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 Welldone Moyo, Nhamo Chaukura, Machawe M. Motsa, Nomcebo H. Mthombeni, Titus A.M. Msagati, Bhekie B. Mamba, Sebastiaan Heijman, Thabo T.I. Nkambule Files PDF JMSR_Volume_7_Issue_2_Pag ... 25_137.pdf 1.93 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:61755c8c-c1e4-4f36-a898-569ff9c57650/datastream/OBJ/view