Dairy wastewater treatment using a novel low cost tubular ceramic membrane and membrane fouling mechanism using pore blocking models. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, R. Vinoth; Goswami, Lalit; Pakshirajan, Kannan; Pugazhenthi, G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 13(2016)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 175
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Tubular membrane -- Dairy wastewater -- COD removal -- Pore blocking model -- Low cost membrane; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2016.08.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Novel low cost tubular membrane applied for real dairy wastewater treatment. Maximum COD removal up to 91% attained with flux of 2.59 × 10 −6 m 3 /m 2 s. Treated water attained acceptable discharge limit set by environmental legislations. Fouling mechanisms analyzed using suitable models. Abstract: This study investigated the potential application of a novel low cost tubular ceramic membrane in treating wastewater generated by a local dairy industry. The low cost tubular membrane ($0.5) with 0.309 μm pore size, 53% porosity and 5.93 × 10 −7 m 3 /m 2 s kPa water permeability was fabricated from natural clay materials by extrusion technique. The capability of the membrane for treating real dairy industry wastewater was tested in tangential mode of microfiltration operation at different applied pressure (207–414 kPa) and cross flow rate (5.55 × 10 −7 –2.22 × 10 −6 m 3 /s). An increase in applied pressure and cross flow rate on the microfiltration process resulted in a decrease in percentage removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD). The novel membrane achieved a maximum reduction in COD up to 91% (135 mg/L) in the permeate stream with a flux of 2.59 × 10 −6 m 3 /m 2 s, which is well within the permissible limit for wastewater discharge into the environment. These investigations affirmed the potential suitability of the membrane in dairy wastewater treatment to attain acceptable limit (<200 mg/L) of the permeate stream. Consequently, the membrane fouling mechanism was examined using conventional pore blocking models, viz. complete, standard, intermediate pore blocking and cake filtration model. The experimental results were well described by the cake filtration model. Additionally, the potential of the novel membrane was compared with other membranes reported in the literature for dairy wastewater treatment application.