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

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Mohanad Abunada (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)

Nirajan Dhakal (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Raffay Gulrez (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)

Yuke Li (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)

Almotasembellah Abushaban (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University)

Herman Smit (PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland)

David Moed (Evides Waterbedrijf)

Noreddine Ghaffour (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)

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

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Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2023.116478 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Journal title
Desalination
Volume number
553
Article number
116478
Downloads counter
227
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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.