Nanoparticles-Assisted Antifouling Surfaces for Water Purification Membranes

Abstract

Fouling has been known as a major problem that limits the performance of membrane-based desalination processes as it causes a decrease in permeate flux with time which leads to an increase in maintenance requirements and operational costs. These consequences are the result of the deposition of unwanted materials on the surface or within pores of the membrane. One way to mitigate fouling tendencies is to improve membrane fouling resistant property by surface modification by nanomaterials. In this paper, series of experiments have been designed and conducted to investigate the antifouling behaviors induced by different nanomaterials. The pantifouling effect of graphene oxide (GO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanomaterials modified membrane were investigated by running accelerated fouling experiments in crossflow mode with feed solution of deionized (DI) water spiked with model organic foulants bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA) respectively. Their performances in fouling experiments are compared with the neat unmodified membranes. Finally, the unchlorinated natural water added with macronutrient substrate for microorganism growth is used as feed for biofouling experiments. Recovery of initial permeate flux have been determined after cleaning the fouled membrane surface with DI water for 1 hour without chemical cleaning. In addition, various membrane surface characteristics were conducted. Results showed that the decrease in flux was inevitable for all membranes. However, MoS2-H coated membrane exhibited the highest antifouling performance. As it achieved the lowest reduction of permeate flux due to fouling, and the highest recovery after cleaning the membrane's surface with water.

Date of Award	Jul 2021
Original language	American English