Characteristics of foulants of forward osmosis membranes used in municipal wastewater concentration processes. Issue 55 (25th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Onoda, Sosuke; Masumori, Yuta; Miyoshi, Taro; Yasukawa, Masahiro; Takahashi, Tomoki; Matsuyama, Hideto
• Is Part Of: Desalination and water treatment. Volume 57:Issue 55(2016)
• Page Start: 26383
• Page End: 26391
• Publication Date: 2016-11-25
• Subjects: Concentration of wastewater -- Forward osmosis -- Membrane fouling -- Characteristics of foulants; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion; Water -- Purification; Periodicals; 628.167
• DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2016.1165738
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1944-3994

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the organic matter that causes fouling in the forward osmosis (FO) membrane filtration system used in wastewater concentration processes. The development of the fouling of FO membranes caused by actual municipal wastewater was compared with that of the fouling caused by solutions containing artificial foulants (i.e. Aldrich humic acid, bovine serum albumin, and sodium alginate). This comparison shows that the development of the fouling was underestimated when using the artificial foulants. The characteristics of the foulants were investigated using fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra and liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection analyses. The results obtained by these advanced analytical methods indicated that the so-called biopolymers (i.e. organic macromolecules mainly comprising polysaccharides and proteins) were the major components of the foulants. In contrast, hydrophobic organic matter, such as humic substances, was not a dominant component.