Preparation and Application of Patterned Membranes for Wastewater Treatment

Membrane fouling remains a critical factor limiting the widespread use of membrane processes in water and wastewater treatment. To mitigate membrane fouling, we introduced a patterned morphology on the membrane surface using a lithographic method. A modified immersion precipitation method was develo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2012-10, Vol.46 (20), p.11021-11027
Main Authors: Won, Young-June, Lee, Jaewoo, Choi, Dong-Chan, Chae, Hee Ro, Kim, Inae, Lee, Chung-Hak, Kim, In-Chul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Biofilms
Biofouling
Bioreactors
Chemical engineering
Chemical precipitation
Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination
Exact sciences and technology
Filtration - instrumentation
General purification processes
Membrane reactors
Membrane separation (reverse osmosis, dialysis...)
Membranes
Membranes, Artificial
Morphology
Permeability
Pollution
Polymers - chemistry
Pore size
Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods
Wastewaters
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Purification - methods
Water treatment
Water treatment and pollution
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Membrane fouling remains a critical factor limiting the widespread use of membrane processes in water and wastewater treatment. To mitigate membrane fouling, we introduced a patterned morphology on the membrane surface using a lithographic method. A modified immersion precipitation method was developed to relieve the formation of dense layer at the solvent–nonsolvent interface, that is, the opposite side of the patterned surface. Diverse patterned membranes, such as pyramid-, prism-, and embossing-patterned membranes, were prepared and compared with a flat membrane in terms of morphology, permeability, and biofouling. Patterned membrane fidelity was largely dependent on the polymer concentration in cast solution. The patterned surface augmented the water flux in proportion to the roughness factor of the patterned membrane. However, the type of pattern did not affect substantially the mean pore size on the patterned surface. Deposition of microbial cells on the patterned membrane was significantly reduced compared to that on the flat membrane in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. This was attributed to hydraulic resistance of the apex of the patterned surface, which induced local turbulence.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es3020309