Advanced Water Treatment Research --> Tech-specific research-->Membranes

Membrane Fouling and Cleaning

Membrane fouling occurs when solutes deposit on the membrane surface or inside the membrane pores. Deposits reduce product water generation and increase pressure. Research into membrane foulants includes:

Aluminum oxide and silica colloids
Colloidal deposition
Calcium ion concentration
Metal chelating agents
Natural organic matter

Research on the removal of foulants from the membrane surface included:

Cleaning chemicals
Air streams
pH Adjustment
Cross Flow Operation

fouled membrane

In an autopsy, we take an element apart to determine why it failed.

Desalting and Water Purification Research Program

Report Title	Performing Agency	Date	Report #	See also
Membrane Element Autopsy Manual	Bureau of Reclamation; Denver CO	Dec-96	17
A Resistance Model for Evaluating Interactions Between Natural Organic Matter (NOM) and Membranes at Different Scales of Operation	Bureau of Reclamation; Denver CO; University of Colorado, Boulder CO	Sep-99	44
Salinity and TOC Removal Using Nanofiltration	University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso TX	Aug-02	46	Case Studies
Membrane Fouling: Influence of Natural Organic Matter	Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute; Troy NY	Sep-02	83
Evaluation of Precipitative Fouling for Colorado River Water Desalination using RO	Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Los Angeles CA;	December 2002	85
Evaluation of Cleaning Spiral Wound Membrane Elements with the Two-Phase Flow Process (see also Report 121)	Novaflux Technologies, Inc.; Princeton NJ	Jun-03	101
Predicting Membrane Flux Decline Using Parameters Derived from Field-Flow Fractionation Measurements	Colorado School of Mines; Golden CO	Jun-06	102
Pilot Scale Testing of Membrane Desalination System Utilizing Novel Two-Phase Cleaning Technology	Novaflux Technologies; Princeton NJ	May-08	121
Novel Fouling Resistant Membranes for Water Purification	University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX	Sep-08	129 see abstract	Material Characterization
Desalination Pretreatment Using Controlled-Chain PEG-Enhanced Cellulose Acetate Ultrafiltration Membranes	University of Toledo; Toledo OH	Jul-08	138	Material Characterization
Optimization of Chemical Cleaning of Organic-Fouled Reverse Osmosis Membranes	Yale University; New Haven CT	Aug-09	141
Reduced Membrane Fouling Potential by Tailored Fluid/Structure Interaction (abstract)	Heat Transfer Research, Inc.; College Station TX	May-08	143