Using loose nanofiltration membrane for lake water treatment: A pilot study

• A pilot study was conducted for drinking water treatment using loose NF membranes. • The membranes had very high rejection of NOM and medium rejection of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺. • Organic fouling was dominant and contribution of inorganic fouling was substantial. • Both organic and inorganic fouling had spatial non-uniformity on membrane surface. • Applying EDTA at basic conditions was effective in removing membrane fouling. Nanofiltration (NF) using loose membranes has a high application potential for advanced treatment of drinking water by selectively removing contaminants from the water, while membrane fouling remains one of the biggest problems of the process. This paper reported a seven-month pilot study of using a loose NF membrane to treat a sand filtration effluent which had a relatively high turbidity (~0.4 NTU) and high concentrations of organic matter (up to 5 mg/L as TOC), hardness and sulfate. Results showed that the membrane demonstrated a high rejection of TOC (by>90%) and a moderately high rejection of two pesticides (54%–82%) while a moderate rejection of both calcium and magnesium (~45%) and a low rejection of total dissolved solids (~27%). The membrane elements suffered from severe membrane fouling, with the membrane permeance decreased by 70% after 85 days operation. The membrane fouling was dominated by organic fouling, while biological fouling was moderate. Inorganic fouling was mainly caused by deposition of aluminum-bearing substances. Though inorganic foulants were minor contents on membrane, their contribution to overall membrane fouling was substantial. Membrane fouling was not uniform on membrane. While contents of organic and inorganic foulants were the highest at the inlet and outlet region, respectively, the severity of membrane fouling increased from the inlet to the outlet region of membrane element with a difference higher than 30%. While alkaline cleaning was not effective in removing the membrane foulants, the use of ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) at alkaline conditions could effectively restore the membrane permeance.     

Aggravation of membrane fouling and methane leakage by a three-phase separator in an external anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactor

The existence of three-phase separator did not affect COD removal in the EAnCMBR. The existence of three-phase separator aggravated methane leakage of EAnCMBR. The existence of three-phase separator aggravated membrane fouling rate of EAnCMBR. Start-up of EAnCMBR equipped three-phase separator was slightly delayed. The three-phase separator is a critical component of high-rate anaerobic bioreactors due to its significant contribution in separation of biomass, wastewater, and biogas. However, its role in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor is still not clear. In this study, the distinction between an external anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactor (EAnCMBR) unequipped (R1) and equipped (R2) with a three-phase separator was investigated in terms of treatment performance, membrane fouling, extracellular polymers of sludge, and microbial community structure. The results indicate that the COD removal efficiencies of R1 and R2 were 98.2%±0.4% and 98.1%±0.4%, respectively, but the start-up period of R2 was slightly delayed. Moreover, the membrane fouling rate of R2 (0.4 kPa/d) was higher than that of R1 (0.2 kPa/d). Interestingly, the methane leakage from R2 (0.1 L/d) was 20 times higher than that from R1 (0.005 L/d). The results demonstrate that the three-phase separator aggravated the membrane fouling rate and methane leakage in the EAnCMBR. Therefore, this study provides a novel perspective on the effects of a three-phase separator in an EAnCMBR.     

反渗透膜污染预测模型的改进

在反渗透非平衡热力学模型的基础上,从膜表面污染层阻力和浓差极化阻力的角度对常见的膜通量模型进行了探讨与改进,推导出了新的反渗透膜污染预测模型,为准确预测膜污染进程提供了理论支持。采用卷式反渗透膜装置对氢氧化铁胶体溶液进行处理,对模型计算值与实测值进行相关性分析,相关系数大于0.95。由此认为,改进的反渗透膜污染预测模型可用于计算运行过程中的膜通量。     

超滤膜系统污染物的形貌及组成分析

通过SEM、能谱、FTIR以及电感耦合等离子体质谱的分析方法对被污染超滤膜面的无机污染物、有机污染物和微生物进行了识别和分析。研究结果表明:超滤膜面无机污染物主要为Fe(OH)3、Cu(OH)2、Al(OH)3和Si等胶体物和少量CaSO4;有机污染物主要为多菌霉素类化合物;微生物可能富含铁类化合物。同时污染膜的清洗液分析结果说明该超滤膜污染物主要为无机胶体和有机物。     

城市污水二级出水有机物分子量分布和亲疏水特性对纳滤膜污染的影响

分别采用分子量分级膜和XAD-8树脂,研究了污水厂二级出水中有机物分子量分布特征及不同分子量分布区间亲疏水有机物的相对含量,考察了分子量分布及亲疏水特性对纳滤膜透水性能的影响.结果表明,二级出水有机物中,小分子亲水性有机物含量最高,小于2k的有机物占总有机物含量的45.61%,其中亲水性物质占28.07%,疏水性物质占17.54%;不同特征的原水分别经纳滤膜过滤,分子量分布对膜污染影响较大,分子量小于30k时,分子量区间越小,比通量衰减越快,分子量大于30k时,分子量区间越大,比通量衰减越快,且分子量较小的有机物通量衰减程度大于分子量较大有机物;在分子量分布相同区间内,亲水性有机物的比通量衰减较慢,说明相同分子量时,膜对亲水性物质的截留率较低,而疏水性物质是引起膜通量衰减的主要原因.     

超滤深度处理煤矿工业广场生活污水试验研究

为解决煤矿工业广场生活污水再生利用的问题,采用超滤技术对二级生化出水进行深度处理试验研究.结果表明:超滤对浊度、CODcr及NH4+-N的平均去除率分别为94.1％、24.8％和32.7％,对粪大肠菌群数的去除率大于99.99％.在操作压力小于0.16MPa的情况下,膜通量随操作压力的提高而线性增大;当操作压力大于0.2 MPa后,膜通量受操作压力的影响较小,继续提高操作压力会加剧膜的污染,周期反冲洗能够有效抑制膜通量的下降.超滤在过滤15m in后反冲洗1min的条件下运行16h,膜通量仅下降7.3％.     

Control of membrane fouling during hyperhaline municipal wastewater treatment using a pilot-scale anoxic/aerobic-membrane bioreactor system

Membrane fouling limits the effects of long-term stable operation of membrane bioreactor (MBR). Control of membrane fouling can extend the membrane life and reduce water treatment cost effectively. A pilot scale anoxic/aerobic-membrane bioreactor (A/O-MBR, 40 L/hr) was used to treat the hyperhaline municipal sewage from a processing zone of Tianjin, China. Impact factors including mixed liquid sludge suspension (MLSS), sludge viscosity (μup), microorganisms, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), aeration intensity and suction/suspended time on membrane fouling and pollution control were studied. The relationships among various factors associated with membrane fouling were analyzed. Results showed that there was a positive correlation among MLSS, sludge viscosity and trans-membrane pressure (TMP). Considering water treatment efficiency and stable operation of the membrane module, MLSS of 5 g/L was suggested for the process. There was a same trend among EPS, sludge viscosity and TMP. Numbers and species of microorganisms affected membrane fouling. Either too high or too low aeration intensity was not conducive to membrane fouling control. Aeration intensity of 1.0 m³/hr (gas/water ratio of 25:1) is suggested for the process. A long suction time caused a rapid increase in membrane resistance. However, long suspended time cannot prevent the increase of membrane resistance effectively even though a suspended time was necessary for scale off particles from the membrane surface. The suction/suspended time of 12 min/3 min was selected for the process. The interaction of various environmental factors and operation conditions must be considered synthetically.     

基于不同内部构型特点的厌氧膜生物反应器中膜污染控制方法

厌氧膜生物反应器(AnMBR)结合了厌氧生物技术和膜过滤技术的优点,不仅污泥产量低、出水效果好、耐冲击负荷高,且可节省能源,在处理高浓度有机废水过程中由于其独特的优势而备受亲睐。膜污染问题一直是影响AnMBR经济性和稳定性的关键因素,目前关于膜污染的研究主要集中在膜污染的成因及控制方法上。膜污染的控制多采用优化操作运行条件和改变膜的表面形态等方法来实现,关于通过改变反应器内部构型来对膜污染进行控制的研究相对较少。综述了气流、液流冲刷膜表面,反应器中安装旋转膜组件以及采用膜振动等几个缓解厌氧膜生物反应器中膜污染的方法,总结了这些方法优点与不足之处,并从不同的角度加以比较,并在此基础上对今后膜污染控制方式的研究方向提出建议,有利于在实际应用中选取适宜的膜污染控制方式,拓展厌氧膜生物反应器应用前景。     

膜生物反应器中膜污染控制方法的研究

从膜生物反应器的类型、气水比和粉末活性炭的投加浓度等方面研究了控制膜污染的方法。结果表明 ,最优的一体式和分置式膜生物反应器的类型是不同的 ;大的气水比有利于减轻膜的污染 ,但在一定的水质条件下 ,增大曝气量所引起的膜通量减少速度是有限的 ;投加适量的粉末活性炭 ,可减缓膜污染 ,但投量过大时 ,反而易造成膜堵塞     

一体式膜-生物反应器中膜污染过程的动态分析

膜污染过程的动态研究对于有效地控制膜污染意义重大。结合膜过滤压差的上升和污染膜表面微观形态的变化 ,对不同污泥浓度和膜通量条件下 ,一体式膜 生物反应器中膜污染过程进行了动态分析。结果表明 ,膜污染初期主要是水中溶解性物质在膜表面附着 ,随后污泥在膜表面沉积。溶解性有机物在膜面的附着 ,对膜过滤压差即膜过滤阻力的变化影响不大 ,而活性污泥在膜表面的大量沉积将导致膜过滤压差迅速上升。污泥浓度愈高 ,膜通量愈大时 ,活性污泥颗粒愈易在膜面沉积。通过停止进出水维持空曝气、降低反应器内污泥浓度或延长膜的停抽时间可以使沉积在膜表面的悬浮污泥脱离膜表面 ,从而使膜过滤能力得到很好的恢复。采用经典的膜污染模型对各运行阶段膜污染模式进行了分析 ,模型拟合结果与电镜观察结果基本吻合。