Prediction of particulate fouling in full-scale reverse osmosis plants using the modified fouling index – ultrafiltration (MFI-UF) method

Abunada, M.B.M.; Dhakal, Nirajan; Gulrez, Raffay; Li, L.; Abushaban, Almotasembellah; Smit, Herman; Moed, David; Ghaffour, Noreddine; Kennedy, M.D.

doi:10.1016/j.desal.2023.116478

Prediction of particulate fouling in full-scale reverse osmosis plants using the modified fouling index – ultrafiltration (MFI-UF) method

Title

Prediction of particulate fouling in full-scale reverse osmosis plants using the modified fouling index – ultrafiltration (MFI-UF) method

Author

Abunada, M.B.M. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering; IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)
Dhakal, Nirajan (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)
Gulrez, Raffay (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)
Li, L. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering; IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)
Abushaban, Almotasembellah (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University)
Smit, Herman (PWN Drinking Water Supply Company)
Moed, David (Evides Industriewater)
Ghaffour, Noreddine (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
Kennedy, M.D. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering; IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Date

2023

Abstract

This study aims at applying and verifying the MFI-UF method to predict particulate fouling in RO plants. Two full-scale RO plants treating surface water, with average capacity of 800–2000 m³/h, were studied. Firstly, the MFI-UF of RO feed and concentrate was measured using 5–100 kDa membranes at same flux applied in the RO plants (20–26 L/m².h). Subsequently, the particle disposition factor (Ω) was calculated to simulate particle deposition in RO cross-flow filtration. Finally, particulate fouling rates were predicted based on MFI-UF and Ω, and compared with the actual fouling rates in the plants. For plant A, the results showed that the fouling rates predicted using MFI-UF measured with 100 kDa membrane have the best agreement with the actual fouling (with 3–11 % deviation). For plant B, the fouling rates predicted based on both 10 and 100 kDa membranes agree well with the actual fouling (with 2 % and 15 % deviation, respectively). However, the fouling predicted based on 5 kDa membrane is considerably overestimated for both plants, which is attributed to the effect of the low surface porosity of 5 kDa membrane. More widespread applications of MFI-UF in full-scale RO plants are required to demonstrate the most suitable MFI-UF membranes for fouling prediction.

Subject

Membrane surface porosity correction
MFI-UF
Particle deposition factor
Particulate fouling prediction
Reverse osmosis (RO)

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cd67187b-74ac-460e-b974-bc0d55ce56d3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.116478

ISSN

0011-9164

Source

Desalination, 553

Part of collection

Institutional Repository