SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2019, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (8): 1798-1806.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2018.10.019

• Separation Science and Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Fouling process and anti-fouling mechanisms of dynamic membrane assisted by photocatalytic oxidation under sub-critical fluxes

Tao Yang1,2, Fen Liu1, Houfeng Xiong1, Qiyong Yang1, Fushan Chen1,3, Changchao Zhan2   

  1. 1 School of Chemistry and Environment Engineering, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China;
    2 Jiangxi Province Engineering Research Center of Ecological Chemical Industry, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China;
    3 State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Chemistry Synthesis Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
  • Received:2018-09-22 Revised:2018-10-28 Online:2019-11-16 Published:2019-08-28
  • Contact: Fushan Chen
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21566013, 51562016), Youth Science Foundation of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, China (GJJ170970) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (20171BAB206015).

Fouling process and anti-fouling mechanisms of dynamic membrane assisted by photocatalytic oxidation under sub-critical fluxes

Tao Yang1,2, Fen Liu1, Houfeng Xiong1, Qiyong Yang1, Fushan Chen1,3, Changchao Zhan2   

  1. 1 School of Chemistry and Environment Engineering, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China;
    2 Jiangxi Province Engineering Research Center of Ecological Chemical Industry, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang 332005, China;
    3 State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Chemistry Synthesis Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
  • 通讯作者: Fushan Chen
  • 基金资助:
    Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21566013, 51562016), Youth Science Foundation of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, China (GJJ170970) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (20171BAB206015).

Abstract: Membrane fouling is often considered as a hindrance for the application of microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF) for drinking water production. A novel process of photocatalytic membrane reactor/dynamic membrane (PMR/DM), operating in a continuous mode under sub-critical flux, was proposed for the mitigation of membrane fouling caused by humic acids (HAs) in water. The mechanism of membrane fouling alleviation with synergistic photocatalytic oxidation and dynamic layer isolating effect was comprehensively investigated from the characterization of foulant evolution responsible for the reversible and irreversible fouling. The results showed that the PMR/DM utilized photocatalytic oxidation to enhance the porosity and hydrophilicity of the fouling layer by converting the high molecular weight (MW) and hydrophobic HA molecules with carboxylic functional groups and aromatic structures into low-MW hydrophilic or transphilic fractions, including tryptophan-like or fulvic-like substances. The fouling layer formed in the PMR/DM by combination of photocatalytic oxidation and DM running at a sub-critical flux of 100 L·h-1·m-2, was more hydrophilic and more porous, resulting in the lowest trans-membrane pressure (TMP) growth rates, as compared to the processes of ceramic membrane (CM), DM and PMR/CM. Meanwhile, the dynamic layer prevented the foulants, particularly the high-MW hydrophobic fractions, from contacting the primary membrane, which enabled the membrane permeability to be restored easily.

Key words: Dynamic membrane, Photocatalytic membrane reactor, Humic acids, Membrane fouling, Sub-critical flux

摘要: Membrane fouling is often considered as a hindrance for the application of microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF) for drinking water production. A novel process of photocatalytic membrane reactor/dynamic membrane (PMR/DM), operating in a continuous mode under sub-critical flux, was proposed for the mitigation of membrane fouling caused by humic acids (HAs) in water. The mechanism of membrane fouling alleviation with synergistic photocatalytic oxidation and dynamic layer isolating effect was comprehensively investigated from the characterization of foulant evolution responsible for the reversible and irreversible fouling. The results showed that the PMR/DM utilized photocatalytic oxidation to enhance the porosity and hydrophilicity of the fouling layer by converting the high molecular weight (MW) and hydrophobic HA molecules with carboxylic functional groups and aromatic structures into low-MW hydrophilic or transphilic fractions, including tryptophan-like or fulvic-like substances. The fouling layer formed in the PMR/DM by combination of photocatalytic oxidation and DM running at a sub-critical flux of 100 L·h-1·m-2, was more hydrophilic and more porous, resulting in the lowest trans-membrane pressure (TMP) growth rates, as compared to the processes of ceramic membrane (CM), DM and PMR/CM. Meanwhile, the dynamic layer prevented the foulants, particularly the high-MW hydrophobic fractions, from contacting the primary membrane, which enabled the membrane permeability to be restored easily.

关键词: Dynamic membrane, Photocatalytic membrane reactor, Humic acids, Membrane fouling, Sub-critical flux