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    Combined organic–inorganic fouling of forward osmosis hollow fiber membranes

    Year: 2012

    Journal: Water Research Volume 46, Issue 19, 1 December 2012, Pages 6329–6338, 20130117

    Authors: Elizabeth Arkhangelsky a b, Filicia Wicaksana b, Chuyang Tang a b, Abdulrahman A. Al-Rabiah c, Saeed M. Al-Zahrani c, Rong Wang a b

    Last authors: Rong Wang

    Organizations: a School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Innovation Center, Block 2, Unit 237, 18 Nanyang Drive, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore, Singapore b Singapore Membrane Technology Center, Nanyang Technological University, 639798 Singapore, Singapore c Chemical Engineering Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia

    Country: singapore, saudi arabia

    This research focused on combined organic–inorganic fouling and cleaning studies of forward osmosis (FO) membranes. Various organic/inorganic model foulants such as sodium alginate, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and silica nanoparticles were applied to polyamide-polyethersulfone FO hollow fiber membranes fabricated in our laboratory. In order to understand all possible interactions, experiments were performed with a single foulant as well as combinations of foulants. Experimental results suggested that the degree of FO membrane fouling could be promoted by synergistic effect of organic foulants, the presence of divalent cations, low cross-flow velocity and high permeation drag force. The water flux of fouled FO hollow fibers could be fully restored by simple physical cleaning. It was also found that hydrodynamic regime played an important role in combined organic–inorganic fouling of FO membranes.