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Calibrating and Validating the MFI-UF Method to Measure Particulate Fouling in Reverse Osmosis

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Mohanad Abunada (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

Nirajan Dhakal (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

William Z. Andyar (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Yuke Li (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Pamela Ajok (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Noreddine Ghaffour (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

Jan C. Schippers (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Maria D. Kennedy (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13050535
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Issue number
5
Volume number
13
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Abstract

This study aimed to calibrate and validate the MFI-UF method in order to ensure the accuracy of particulate fouling measurements in RO. Firstly, the MFI-UF calibration was examined using two solutions of standard particles (dextran and polystyrene). Two main criteria were investigated: (i) MFI-UF linearity with particle concentrations at both low and high ranges of fouling potential and (ii) the reproducibility of MFI-UF linearity. Dextran solutions showed a strong MFI-UF linearity over the entire range of measured MFI-UF. However, the linearity was not reproducible, and different batches of dextran prepared under the same conditions produced very variable results. For polystyrene solutions, the MFI-UF linearity was verified at the higher range of MFI-UF (>10,000 s/L2), while the MFI-UF at the lower range (<5000 s/L2) appeared to be underestimated. Secondly, MFI-UF linearity was investigated using natural (surface) water under a wide range of testing conditions (at 20–200 L/m2·h using 5–100 kDa membranes). Strong MFI-UF linearity was obtained over the entire range of measured MFI-UF (up to 70,000 s/L2). Thus, the MFI-UF method was validated to measure different levels of particulate fouling in RO. However, future research focusing on MFI-UF calibration is still required through the selection, preparation, and testing of heterogeneous mixtures of standard particles.