SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2019, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (8): 1789-1797.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2018.09.029

• Separation Science and Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Performance evaluation of polyamide nanofiltration membranes for phosphorus removal process and their stability against strong acid/alkali solution

Yen Khai Chai1, How Chun Lam1, Chai Hoon Koo1, Woei Jye Lau2, Soon Onn Lai3, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail2   

  1. 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Bandar Sg. Long, Bandar Sg. Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia;
    2 Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre(AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia;
    3 Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Bandar Sg. Long, Bandar Sg. Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Received:2018-08-23 Revised:2018-09-27 Online:2019-11-16 Published:2019-08-28
  • Contact: Chai Hoon Koo, Woei Jye Lau
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the Ministry of Education (MoE) Malaysia to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) under the grant of Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) (R.J090301.7846.4J175) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) under the research publication scheme (6251/K02).

Performance evaluation of polyamide nanofiltration membranes for phosphorus removal process and their stability against strong acid/alkali solution

Yen Khai Chai1, How Chun Lam1, Chai Hoon Koo1, Woei Jye Lau2, Soon Onn Lai3, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail2   

  1. 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Bandar Sg. Long, Bandar Sg. Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia;
    2 Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre(AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia;
    3 Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Bandar Sg. Long, Bandar Sg. Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 通讯作者: Chai Hoon Koo, Woei Jye Lau
  • 基金资助:
    Supported by the Ministry of Education (MoE) Malaysia to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) under the grant of Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) (R.J090301.7846.4J175) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) under the research publication scheme (6251/K02).

Abstract: In this study, a quantitative performance of three commercial polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membranes (i.e., NF, NF90, and NF270) for phosphorus removal under different feed conditions was investigated. The experiments were conducted at different feed phosphorus concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg·L-1) and elevated pHs (pH 1.5, 5, 10, and 13.5) at a constant feed pressure of 1 MPa using a dead-end filtration cell. Membrane rejection against total phosphorus generally increased with increasing phosphorus concentration regardless of membrane type. In contrast, the permeate flux for all the membranes only decreased slightly with increasing phosphorus concentration. The results also showed that the phosphorus rejections improved while water flux remained almost unchanged with increasing feed solution pH. When the three membranes were exposed to strong pHs (pH 1.5 and 13.5) for a longer duration (up to 6 weeks), it was found that the rejection capability and water flux of the membranes remained very similar throughout the duration, except for NF membrane with marginal decrement in phosphorus rejection. Adsorption study also revealed that more phosphorus was adsorbed onto the membrane structure at alkaline conditions (pH 10 and 13.5) compared to the same membranes tested at lower pHs (pH 1.5 and 5). In conclusion, NF270 membrane outperformed NF and NF90 membranes owing to its desirable performance of water flux and phosphorus rejection particularly under strong alkali solution. The NF270 membrane achieved 14.0 L·m-2·h-1 and 96.5% rejection against 10 mg·L-1 phosphorus solution with a pH value of 13.5 at the applied pressure of 1 MPa.

Key words: Membrane, Nanofiltration, Phosphorus removal, pH, Stability, Humic acid

摘要: In this study, a quantitative performance of three commercial polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membranes (i.e., NF, NF90, and NF270) for phosphorus removal under different feed conditions was investigated. The experiments were conducted at different feed phosphorus concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg·L-1) and elevated pHs (pH 1.5, 5, 10, and 13.5) at a constant feed pressure of 1 MPa using a dead-end filtration cell. Membrane rejection against total phosphorus generally increased with increasing phosphorus concentration regardless of membrane type. In contrast, the permeate flux for all the membranes only decreased slightly with increasing phosphorus concentration. The results also showed that the phosphorus rejections improved while water flux remained almost unchanged with increasing feed solution pH. When the three membranes were exposed to strong pHs (pH 1.5 and 13.5) for a longer duration (up to 6 weeks), it was found that the rejection capability and water flux of the membranes remained very similar throughout the duration, except for NF membrane with marginal decrement in phosphorus rejection. Adsorption study also revealed that more phosphorus was adsorbed onto the membrane structure at alkaline conditions (pH 10 and 13.5) compared to the same membranes tested at lower pHs (pH 1.5 and 5). In conclusion, NF270 membrane outperformed NF and NF90 membranes owing to its desirable performance of water flux and phosphorus rejection particularly under strong alkali solution. The NF270 membrane achieved 14.0 L·m-2·h-1 and 96.5% rejection against 10 mg·L-1 phosphorus solution with a pH value of 13.5 at the applied pressure of 1 MPa.

关键词: Membrane, Nanofiltration, Phosphorus removal, pH, Stability, Humic acid