A review of membrane fouling in municipal secondary effluent reclamation

Reclamation of municipal secondary effluent for non-potable purposes is considered vital in alleviating the demand for existing limited water supplies while helping to protect remaining water sources from being polluted. In recent decades, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane technologies have become increasingly attractive for reclamation of municipal secondary effluent because they are highly efficient, easy to operate, and economical. However, membrane fouling is a major obstacle in the development of membrane technology in municipal secondary effluent reclamation. This paper reviews three types of membrane fouling in municipal secondary effluent reclamation, namely, effluent organic matter (EfOM) membrane fouling, microbial membrane fouling, and inorganic membrane fouling, as well as their correlation. Membrane fouling by EfOM and microbes are found to be severe, and they are significantly correlated. Most previous studies conducted laboratory-scale experiments of membrane fouling with model organic matters and bacteria, but these model organic matters and bacteria might still be unrepresentative. More studies on membrane fouling in municipal secondary effluent reclamation with actual wastewater are essential.     

Differential pressure in membrane channel caused by foulant capture onto spacers.

Feed spacers in spiral-wound reverse osmosis membrane modules are highly susceptible to deposition or attachment of suspended particulates and organic matters in the feed stream. This type of fouling can cause a significant pressure drop along the membrane channel (differential pressure) without much effect on the average permeate flux. In practical applications, membrane cleaning is often triggered when the differential pressure in a membrane channel exceeds a threshold value. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the development of differential pressure in the feed channel resulting from foulant capture by the feed spacers. Simulations were carried out to investigate and demonstrate the effect of various parameters on differential pressures in the membrane channel. Differential pressures observed in a two-stage reverse osmosis water reclamation plant were simulated with the model, and the results showed that the model could adequately describe the increase of differential pressure with operating time in the reverse osmosis plant.     

热电厂双膜法中水深度处理回用系统膜污染机制分析

以某热电厂实际规模的双膜法中水回用系统为考察对象,对膜污染结构、形貌、组成与特征进行了研究。结果表明：污染物以有机-无机-微生物复合形式存在,形成致密的膜污染层,无机物主要以P、S、Ca、Si、Mg为主,存在垂直分布特征;有机污染物以腐殖质类、蛋白质、微生物代谢产物为主,且研究发现RO过程富里酸类物质主要为微生物源。碱性清洗液具有更佳的膜污染清洗效果。通过分析可知：微生物污染是膜污染暴发的关键原因,其以杆菌和球菌为主,且具有显著的垂直分布特征;表层微生物主要是α和β变形菌,底层中γ变形菌丰度显著增加。微生物污染垂直分布的主要原因是杀菌和化学清洗过程的选择作用,γ变形菌是先锋微生物,是形成稳定膜污染层的关键物种。因此,控制微生物的滋生是RO中水深度处理的关键,这个过程主要包括预处理工艺的选择和优化杀菌、阻垢和化学清洗策略等。     

煤化工废水高效反渗透工艺运行效果及膜污染特征

高效反渗透(high efficiency reverse osmosis,HERO)工艺是工业废水零排放系统浓盐水浓缩减量的关键,其运行效果显著影响浓盐水蒸发结晶的效能,直接决定系统运行的稳定性和运行成本。针对我国北方某煤化工厂废水零排放系统中的HERO工艺运行效果及膜污染特征进行了分析,以明确HERO系统的关键问题。结果表明：澄清池和弱酸阳床可有效实现废水中硬度离子的去除,其他离子与污染物主要由反渗透(RO)单元去除。废水中溶解性有机物(DOM)主要以腐殖酸类物质和微生物代谢产物(SMP)类物质为主,且腐殖酸类物质主要为微生物源。预处理阶段对SiO₂无针对性控制措施,混凝除硅效果较差(去除率29.43%),HERO进水SiO₂质量浓度较高,导致RO膜出现显著的硅复合污染,其中1段第1根膜污染物以硅和有机物耦合物、微生物及其代谢产物为主,二段最后1根膜表面出现大量颗粒状硅垢。因此,针对此HERO工艺,需进一步强化SiO₂的去除并实现其有效清洗,是缓解膜污染并提升系统稳定性的重要措施。     

混凝对正渗透过程中抗生素去除特性及膜污染的影响

为探明混凝预处理对正渗透去除抗生素的影响以及混凝对后续膜处理的影响,选用PAC、FeCl₃、Al₂(SO₄)₃对正渗透原料液进行混凝预处理,考察了混凝预处理对正渗透水通量、NaCl返混通量、抗生素截留率及膜污染的影响。结果表明：混凝预处理对正渗透过程中膜污染程度的影响由原料液中HA残留量以及Zeta电位共同决定;经混凝预处理后,原料液中腐殖酸残留量越多,正渗透过程中所形成的滤饼层越厚,原料液Zeta电位绝对值越低,形成的滤饼层越密实。滤饼层的形态影响正渗透的浓差极化作用,进而影响正渗透的运行特性及抗生素的截留效果,同时决定了膜清洗的难易程度。     

微絮凝-微滤用于印染废水回用反渗透预处理的试验研究

采用微絮凝过滤-微滤作为反渗透的预处理工艺,用于印染废水二级生化出水回用深度处理.试验考察了预处理效果、工艺参数和反渗透系统运行情况,分析了膜污染的类型及特点.试验结果表明,微絮凝过滤-微滤作为反渗透的预处理工艺,系统运行稳定,相对于超滤-反渗透的"双膜法"工艺,投资和运行费用相对较低,有推广应用价值.     

基于生化双膜工艺的油田采出水处理与资源化

针对胜利油田油井采出水处理负荷过大但锅炉用水短缺的问题,对油井采出水进行生化双膜工艺处理,处理后的产水用于锅炉给水,浓水用于低渗油田回注.开展了规模为200m3?d-1的中试实验,重点研究了超滤进水悬浮物与超滤膜污染的关系,考察了反渗透进水压力、进水温度对产水率、膜通量和透盐率的影响.结果表明:生化处理后的油田采出水中...     

应用于维生素C凝结水处理反渗透膜清洗策略

针对沈阳某药厂维生素C生产工艺中凝结水产量大、处理成本高和杂质复杂等问题,提出了采用反渗透技术对工艺凝结水进行处理。在前期确定的最优操作条件基础上持续运行,研究了运行临界通量、清洗时机和清洗方式等工艺条件。结果表明,在本工艺条件下,反渗透膜系统的临界通量介于1.1 L/(m2.min)到1.2 L/(m2.min)之间,斜率变点分析法确定的可逆膜污染周期为10 d;加强型清洗策略EFM(enhanced flux maintenance)的操作是针对不可逆膜污染的一种有效清洗方式,EFM持续30 min为宜,NaClO和NaOH都是有机污染的有效清洗剂,膜的平均恢复率分别为85.4%和81.6%,显示出实际应用的可行性,具有推广价值。     

活性焦吸附对反渗透浓水膜蒸馏减排工艺的影响

本研究采用膜蒸馏(MD)技术,对煤化工废水2套处理工艺——(1)"混凝-超滤(UF)-反渗透(RO)工艺"和(2)"混凝-活性焦(AC)吸附-超滤-反渗透工艺"的RO浓水进行浓缩。通过对比分析MD的膜通量、产水水质以及膜污染等指标,重点考察AC吸附预处理对后续MD工艺的影响。结果表明,AC吸附作为前置膜处理工艺,可有效降低污染物在膜表面的沉积,减少膜润湿现象,并提高膜通量。GC-MS分析表明,AC能有效吸附废水中的酮类、醇类、酯类以及杂环类等挥发性有机物,降低MD过程中挥发至产水侧的有机物浓度,从而提高MD产水水质。     

上向流曝气生物滤池水头损失沿程分布与动态特性

对比考察了天然斜发沸石、页岩陶粒和石灰岩碎石填料曝气生物滤池的水头损失增长规律,分析了3种滤池水头损失的空间分布特征和动态变化特性,探讨了截留固体累积量对水头损失发展的影响规律。结果表明,沸石、陶粒和石灰岩曝气生物滤池均具有较好的有机物和SS沿程去除能力,并与水头损失的沿程分布密切相关;滤池内部TSS的沿程变化趋势和水头损失沿程分布趋势基本一致;曝气生物滤池的水头损失随着反应器运行时间的延长而缓慢增加,当滤床内TSS积累量增加到一定程度时,气体的滤床驻留率增加,并与TSS积累协同作用,滤床局部孔隙率迅速下降,水头损失迅速越升。曝气生物滤池的反冲洗首先应着眼于解决滤床的局部孔隙率过低问题,然后以气洗促进颗粒碰撞,气水联合提高剪切力,最后水漂洗排出TSS和气泡。     

Precipitation softening: a pretreatment process for seawater desalination

Reduction of membrane fouling in reverse osmosis systems and elimination of scaling of heat transfer surfaces in thermal plants are a major challenge in the desalination of seawater. Precipitation softening has the potential of eliminating the major fouling and scaling species in seawater desalination plants, thus allowing thermal plants to operate at higher top brine temperatures and membrane plants to operate at a reduced risk of fouling, leading to lower desalinated water costs. This work evaluated the use of precipitation softening as a pretreatment step for seawater desalination. The effectiveness of the process in removing several scale-inducing materials such as calcium, magnesium, silica, and boron was investigated under variable conditions of temperature and pH. The treatment process was also applied to seawater spiked with other known fouling species such as iron and bacteria to determine the efficiency of removal. The results of this work show that precipitation softening at a pH of 11 leads to complete elimination of calcium, silica, and bacteria; to very high removal efficiencies of magnesium and iron (99.6 and 99.2 %, respectively); and to a reasonably good removal efficiency of boron (61 %).     

Analysis of organic nitrogen removal in municipal wastewater by reverse osmosis

The results of a pilot study that was conducted to determine the total nitrogen removal by the reverse osmosis process are presented. The organic nitrogen removal rates are compared with removals observed from three full-scale reverse osmosis facilities and four pilot studies. The results of this analysis suggest that organic nitrogen removal is variable and that reverse osmosis may not consistently produce total nitrogen levels less than 1.0 mg/L without additional treatment. Three hypotheses to explain the variability in organic nitrogen removal in the different data sets are presented.     

正渗透中驱动溶质反渗模型的建立与实验验证

正渗透过程能够有效运行的一个前提条件是要求驱动溶质反向扩散的通量非常小。为了深入了解正渗透过程中驱动溶质反渗对膜分离过程的影响,以现有的浓差极化模型为基础,建立正渗透过程不同操作模式下驱动溶质的反渗通量以及膜通量的数学模型。为证明模型的准确性,以NaCl为驱动液做一组序批式实验,测出不同初始渗透压下的水通量和反渗通量,将实验值与模型预测值比较,发现模型的预测结果与实验结果高度吻合。     

放射通道碟管式反渗透(RCDTRO)系统处理垃圾渗滤液

研究了碟管式反渗透（RCDTRO）系统处理垃圾渗滤液的性能,通过测定处理效果和对膜污染的抵抗力,对RCDTRO的性能进行了评估。研究表明：在不进行预处理和后置处理的情况下,一级RCDTRO系统对COD的去除率为（98.89±0.26）%、氨氮（NH4+-N）的去除率为（96.04±0.21）%、脱盐率为（97.53±0.18）%;良好的出水质量和对膜污染的强抵抗力（更长的清洗周期）进一步说明了RCDTRO系统处理渗滤液的技术可行性和经济适用性。其次,实验得出最佳的操作条件范围：压力为4.2~5.0 MPa,加压泵的频率为35 Hz,回收率为65%~75%。结果表明RCDTRO系统处理渗滤液在技术上和经济上都是可行的,并且能够在相对较低的压力下维持较高的处理效率。     

Optimization and treatment of wastewater of crude oil desalting unit and prediction of scale formation

In this article, one of Iran’s southwest oil fields that produces 3200 barrels per day (bbl/d) of wastewater from oil and gas processing was investigated. Experimental analysis of oil reservoir water and desalting wastewater disposal of crude oil desalting unit was performed. First, water was treated with a reverse osmosis membrane. As a result, the purified water, with lower total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH, was a suitable candidate for injection into the adjacent wells of the crude oil desalting unit. The effectiveness and compatibility of this wastewater to the formation water of the oil field wells were simulated. Finally, we studied and identified the formation, the amount, and the type of mineral scale deposits. These are the most important problems during water injection into the wells. The analysis shows that the refined water from the reverse osmosis (RO) process was a suitable and low-cost economical option for injection in onshore and offshore fields, due to the low amount of salts, the concentration of susceptible ions in scaling formation, and the appropriate pH. This oil field, which is in the second half of life, requires enhanced oil recovery methods (EOR) for the maintenance of pressure and an increase in oil recovery.

     

膜-生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的研究进展

本文就膜 -生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的生成特性及其影响的研究进展进行了总结。在膜 -生物反应器中 ,膜的高效固液分离作用在提高系统容积负荷和出水水质的同时 ,也使生物反应器成为一个相对封闭的系统。以腐殖质、多糖、蛋白质等物质为主要成分的溶解性微生物产物是生物处理出水中溶解性TOC或COD的主要组成部分 ,主要产生于微生物的基质分解过程和内源呼吸过程 ,其高分子物质的含量较多且可生物降解性较差 ,因此 ,在膜 -生物反应器中会出现积累。溶解性微生物产物的过高积累不仅有可能降低膜过滤出水的水质稳定性 ,而且有可能影响污泥活性 ,并引起膜污染。进水浓度和污泥浓度是影响溶解性微生物产物产生量的重要因素。目前有关膜 -生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的研究还很不完善 ,有很多问题需进一步研究     

活性焦吸附对煤化工废水膜处理工艺的影响

煤化工废水经过生化处理后一般难以达到回用标准,须采用有效的深度处理工艺才能实现废水的资源化利用。通过对比研究方式,采用“混凝-超滤-反渗透工艺”及“混凝-活性焦吸附-超滤-反渗透”2种处理工艺,考察了活性焦吸附对后续膜处理工艺的影响。结果表明,活性焦对废水中的芳香族类等主要污染物具有很好的吸附性能,混凝出水经活性焦吸附后进人膜系统可有效减缓膜污染,降低膜通量的衰减程度并提高产水水质,因此,将活性焦吸附用于煤化工废水膜系统的前处理,采用“混凝-活性焦吸附-超滤-反渗透工艺”深度处理煤化工废水是有效可行的。     

基于海水和盐田水的正渗透驱动液

采用海水和盐田水作为驱动液,研究正渗透过程中的通量变化和膜污染特征,探索其作为驱动液的可行性。结果表明,海水和盐田水含有大量的盐离子,具有高的渗透压,海水、2#、5#和9#盐田水与0.42、0.8、2.2和4.2 mol/L的氯化钠具有同样的通量行为。随海水和盐田水浓度增加,通量增加,同时污染也越严重。扫描电子显微镜观察和荧光光谱分析发现,盐田水中的硅酸盐和有机物会沉积在膜表面,引起比较严重的膜污染,尤其是高浓度的盐田水。海水和盐田水作为正渗透过程中的驱动液需要进行一定的预处理。     

混凝沉淀前处理对丙烯酸丁酯废水陶瓷膜过滤膜污染的影响

采用混凝沉淀-双层滤料过滤-陶瓷膜过滤组合工艺去除丙烯酸丁酯废水中浊度物质。结果表明,废水pH值、混凝药剂投加量、混凝沉淀水力条件不仅对丙烯酸丁酯废水混凝沉淀出水和双层滤料过滤单元出水浊度具有重要影响,而且对后续陶瓷膜过滤单元膜污染均具有重要影响。双层滤料过滤出水浊度与陶瓷膜污染阻力具有明显的正相关关系,双层滤料过滤出水浊度越高,陶瓷膜污染阻力越大。废水pH在7.0~10.0范围内、混凝药剂PAC或PAM投加过量、废水流量过高都会造成双层滤料过滤出水浊度偏高,导致陶瓷膜污染严重。     

A modeling study of fouling development in membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment.

Membrane fouling is a primary concern in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) in wastewater treatment because it strongly affects both system stability and economic feasibility. A mathematical model was developed in this study for membrane fouling in submerged MBR systems for wastewater treatment, in which both reversible and irreversible fouling were quantified. While mixed liquor suspended solids are the major components of the reversible fouling layer, dissolved organic matter is thought to be the key foulant, in particular, responsible for the long-term irreversible fouling of the filtration unit. The model was calibrated (parameter identification) with a set of operational data from a pilot MBR and then verified with other independent operational data from the MBR. The good agreement between theoretical predictions and operational data demonstrates that the outlined modeling concept can be successfully applied to describe membrane fouling in submerged MBR systems.