Improved quantitative evaluation of the fouling potential in spacer-filled membrane filtration channels through a biofouling index based on the relative pressure drop

Improved quantitative evaluation of the fouling potential in spacer-filled membrane filtration channels through a biofouling index based on the relative pressure drop

Huisman, Kees Theo (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
Franco-Clavijo, Natalia (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
Vrouwenvelder, J.S. (TU Delft BT/Environmental Biotechnology; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
Blankert, Bastiaan (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

2023

In this study, a biofouling index based on the relative pressure drop is presented to quantitatively evaluate the amount of fouling in spacer-filled membrane filtration channels. The biofouling index was defined as the inverse of the time to reach a relative pressure drop of 100% and can be interpreted as a fouling rate or cleaning frequency. The index was applied to evaluate biofilm growth in membrane fouling simulators with reverse osmosis membranes and commercial feed spacers operated with different feed water nutrient concentrations and crossflow velocities. Biofilm accumulation on the membrane and feed spacer was characterized in situ using optical coherence tomography. We showed that the biofouling index is directly related to the volume of biofouling independent of the applied crossflow velocity and a suitable tool for improved quantitative comparison of the biofouling rate. Furthermore our results suggest that the pressure drop is better described as function of the velocity at the perimeter of a spacer cell instead of the average velocity in the channel. Although the biofouling index is developed for biofouling, the index may be applied to quantitatively assess mitigation strategies in spacer filled channels for a wider range of fouling types.

Biofouling
Operational performance
Optical coherence tomography
Reverse osmosis
Seawater desalination

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:992b640e-f19a-4113-a99b-1dd97432bf0a

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121400

2023-07-18

0376-7388

Journal of Membrane Science, 671

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 Kees Theo Huisman, Natalia Franco-Clavijo, J.S. Vrouwenvelder, Bastiaan Blankert