Tuning anti-adhesion ability of membrane for a membrane bioreactor by thermodynamic analysis. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lei, Qian; Li, Fengquan; Shen, Liguo; Yang, Lining; Liao, Bao-Qiang; Lin, Hongjun
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 216(2016)
• Page Start: 691
• Page End: 698
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Membrane bioreactor -- Membrane fouling -- Electron donor tension -- Interfacial interaction -- Zeta potential; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Electron donor tension is a reliable indicator predicting adsorptive fouling. There exists a critical electron donor tension above that interaction is repulsive. Membrane surface zeta potential exerts certain effects on adsorptive fouling. A new strategy to tune membrane anti-adhesion ability is proposed. Abstract: Developing strategies that allow tuning anti-adhesion ability of membranes in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) is of primary interest in membrane fouling research. In this study, interaction energies between foulants and membrane in three different interaction scenarios were systematically assessed based on thermodynamic methods. It was found that, membrane surface electron donor tension (γ − ) rather than surface hydrophilicity was a more reliable indicator to predict adsorptive fouling. The interaction energy would be continuously repulsive in the initial range of separation distance when membrane γ − is higher than a critical value, suggesting that designing membrane with γ − higher than a critical value would confer membrane with high anti-adhesion ability. It was also found that, zeta potential on the membrane surface exerted certain effects on adsorptive fouling. This study proposed a novel strategy regarding adjusting membrane γ − to tune anti-adhesion ability of membrane, and also offered a thermodynamic theoretical background to this strategy.