Evaluation of forward osmosis membrane performance and fouling during long-term osmotic membrane bioreactor study

Abstract Forward osmosis membrane performance and fouling was studied during 100 days of continuous activated sludge treatment. The purpose of the study was to compare the performance and fouling of commercial cellulose triacetate and newly developed polyamide thin film composite membranes that treated high salinity and low salinity activated sludge from two membrane bioreactors. Water flux, reverse salt flux, and specific reverse salt flux were measured to evaluate the performance of virgin and fouled membranes. Membrane autopsy was used to investigate foulant composition and compare physicochemical membrane properties before and after fouling. The results indicated that both membrane types attained steady-state water flux over 100 days, characterized by an initial decline and subsequent steady-state period. Biofouling and organic fouling caused overall water flux decline, in which foulants were identical between membrane and activated sludge types. Water flux results were similar for the two activated sludge types and demonstrated that FO membrane performance and fouling was independent of total dissolved solids, calcium, and mixed liquor suspended solid concentrations. Lastly, virgin membrane properties (i.e., hydrophilicity and surface roughness) did not contribute substantially to membrane fouling. Cellulose triacetate membranes outperformed thin film composite membranes, with lower fouling propensity, higher water flux, lower reverse salt flux, and lower specific reverse salt flux.

[1]  Anthony G. Fane,et al.  Adhesion of waste water bacteria to reverse osmosis membranes , 1998 .

[2]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  Assessing short-range membrane–colloid interactions using surface energetics , 2002 .

[3]  Alberto Tiraferri.  Improving the Performance and Antifouling Properties of Thin-Film Composite Membranes for Water Separation Technologies , 2012 .

[4]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  Forward osmosis: Principles, applications, and recent developments , 2006 .

[5]  Andrea Achilli,et al.  The osmotic membrane bioreactor: a critical review , 2015 .

[6]  Anthony G Fane,et al.  Direct microscopic observation of forward osmosis membrane fouling. , 2010, Environmental science & technology.

[7]  Barry Lai,et al.  Elemental and Redox Analysis of Single Bacterial Cells by X-ray Microbeam Analysis , 2004, Science.

[8]  Bryan D. Coday,et al.  Forward osmosis desalination of oil and gas wastewater: Impacts of membrane selection and operating conditions on process performance , 2015 .

[9]  Bruce E Logan,et al.  Spectral force analysis using atomic force microscopy reveals the importance of surface heterogeneity in bacterial and colloid adhesion to engineered surfaces. , 2008, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[10]  Tzahi Y. Cath,et al.  Indirect determination of zeta potential at high ionic strength: Specific application to semipermeable polymeric membranes , 2015 .

[11]  O. Kedem,et al.  Surface modification of commercial polyamide reverse osmosis membranes by radical grafting: An ATR‐FTIR study , 1998 .

[12]  Guanglei Qiu,et al.  Osmotic membrane bioreactor for municipal wastewater treatment and the effects of silver nanoparticles on system performance , 2015 .

[13]  Yueping Ren,et al.  Impacts of sludge retention time on sludge characteristics and membrane fouling in a submerged osmotic membrane bioreactor. , 2014, Bioresource technology.

[14]  Long D. Nghiem,et al.  Rejection of pharmaceutically active compounds by forward osmosis: Role of solution pH and membrane orientation , 2012 .

[15]  Alain Grasmick,et al.  Characterisation and modelling of fouling in membrane bioreactors , 2002 .

[16]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Solute coupled diffusion in osmotically driven membrane processes. , 2009, Environmental science & technology.

[17]  D.J.H. Harmsen,et al.  Membrane fouling and process performance of forward osmosis membranes on activated sludge , 2008 .

[18]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Forward osmosis for concentration of anaerobic digester centrate. , 2007, Water research.

[19]  Anthony G Fane,et al.  Fouling propensity of forward osmosis: investigation of the slower flux decline phenomenon. , 2010, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[20]  Tzahi Y. Cath,et al.  Long-term pilot scale investigation of novel hybrid ultrafiltration-osmotic membrane bioreactors , 2015 .

[21]  Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht,et al.  Effect of free calcium concentration and ionic strength on alginate fouling in cross-flow membrane filtration , 2009 .

[22]  Juan D. Gomez,et al.  Towards direct potable reuse with forward osmosis: Technical assessment of long-term process performance at the pilot scale , 2013 .

[23]  How Yong Ng,et al.  Forward osmosis organic fouling: Effects of organic loading, calcium and membrane orientation , 2013 .

[24]  Andrea Achilli,et al.  Standard methodology for evaluating membrane performance in osmotically driven membrane processes , 2013 .

[25]  Anja Drews,et al.  Membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors—Characterisation, contradictions, cause and cures , 2010 .

[26]  Yongzhen Peng,et al.  Determination effect of influent salinity and inhibition time on partial nitrification in a sequencing batch reactor treating saline sewage , 2009 .

[27]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Colloidal fouling in forward osmosis: Role of reverse salt diffusion , 2012 .

[28]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  The forward osmosis membrane bioreactor: A low fouling alternative to MBR processes , 2009 .

[29]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Reverse draw solute permeation in forward osmosis: modeling and experiments. , 2010, Environmental science & technology.

[30]  C. D. Lundin,et al.  A multi-barrier osmotic dilution process for simultaneous desalination and purification of impaired water , 2010 .

[31]  Guanglei Qiu,et al.  Short-term fouling propensity and flux behavior in an osmotic membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment , 2014 .

[32]  Bhekie B. Mamba,et al.  Organic fouling in forward osmosis membranes: the role of feed solution chemistry and membrane structural properties , 2014 .

[33]  B. Van der Bruggen,et al.  Influence of membrane and colloid characteristics on fouling of nanofiltration membranes , 2007 .

[34]  Chung-Hak Lee,et al.  Comparison of the filtration characteristics of organic and inorganic membranes in a membrane-coupled anaerobic bioreactor. , 2002, Water research.

[35]  Chuyang Y. Tang,et al.  Coupled effects of internal concentration polarization and fouling on flux behavior of forward osmosis membranes during humic acid filtration , 2010 .

[36]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Fouling control in a forward osmosis process integrating seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation , 2013 .

[37]  How Yong Ng,et al.  Modified models to predict flux behavior in forward osmosis in consideration of external and internal concentration polarizations , 2008 .

[38]  J. McCutcheon,et al.  Influence of concentrative and dilutive internal concentration polarization on flux behavior in forward osmosis , 2006 .

[39]  Chuyang Y. Tang,et al.  Direct microscopic observation of forward osmosis membrane fouling by microalgae: Critical flux and the role of operational conditions , 2013 .

[40]  Wankei Wan,et al.  Comparative assessment of hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane fouling in wastewater applications , 2009 .

[41]  Chuyang Y. Tang,et al.  Organic fouling of thin-film composite polyamide and cellulose triacetate forward osmosis membranes by oppositely charged macromolecules. , 2013, Water research.

[42]  Tao Jiang,et al.  Influence of activated sludge properties on flux behavior in osmosis membrane bioreactor (OMBR) , 2012 .

[43]  Christopher Bellona,et al.  Effect of membrane fouling on transport of organic contaminants in NF/RO membrane applications , 2006 .

[44]  Anthony G Fane,et al.  Characterization of biofouling in a lab-scale forward osmosis membrane bioreactor (FOMBR). , 2014, Water research.

[45]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Chemical and physical aspects of organic fouling of forward osmosis membranes , 2008 .

[46]  Yaolin Liu,et al.  Combined fouling of forward osmosis membranes: Synergistic foulant interaction and direct observation of fouling layer formation , 2012 .

[47]  M. Elimelech,et al.  Organic fouling of forward osmosis membranes: Fouling reversibility and cleaning without chemical reagents , 2010 .

[48]  A. Drews,et al.  Recent advances in membrane bioreactors (MBRs): membrane fouling and membrane material. , 2009, Water research.

[49]  Bo Zhang,et al.  High-concentration food wastewater treatment by an anaerobic membrane bioreactor. , 2005, Water research.

[50]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Silica scaling and scaling reversibility in forward osmosis , 2013 .

[51]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Structural Growth and Viscoelastic Properties of Adsorbed Alginate Layers in Monovalent and Divalent Salts , 2006 .

[52]  Amy E. Childress,et al.  Role of membrane surface morphology in colloidal fouling of cellulose acetate and composite aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis membranes , 1997 .

[53]  H. Ridgway,et al.  Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis of surfactants influencing attachment of a Mycobacterium sp. to cellulose acetate and aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis membranes. , 1999, Biotechnology and bioengineering.

[54]  Gary L. Amy,et al.  NOM and TEP fouling of a forward osmosis (FO) membrane: Foulant identification and cleaning , 2012 .

[55]  H. Yamamura,et al.  Mechanism involved in the evolution of physically irreversible fouling in microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes used for drinking water treatment. , 2007, Environmental science & technology.

[56]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Comparison of fouling behavior in forward osmosis (FO) and reverse osmosis (RO) , 2010 .

[57]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Removal of natural steroid hormones from wastewater using membrane contactor processes. , 2006, Environmental science & technology.

[58]  Shuren Chou,et al.  Membrane biofouling and scaling in forward osmosis membrane bioreactor , 2012 .

[59]  Hye-Weon Yu,et al.  Effects of phosphate limitation in feed water on biofouling in forward osmosis (FO) process , 2014 .

[60]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Comparison of the removal of hydrophobic trace organic contaminants by forward osmosis and reverse osmosis. , 2012, Water research.

[61]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Removal of trace organic chemicals and performance of a novel hybrid ultrafiltration-osmotic membrane bioreactor. , 2014, Environmental science & technology.

[62]  Long D. Nghiem,et al.  Water extraction from mixed liquor of an aerobic bioreactor by forward osmosis: Membrane fouling and biomass characteristics assessment , 2015 .

[63]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Forward with osmosis: emerging applications for greater sustainability. , 2011, Environmental science & technology.

[64]  Kerri L. Hickenbottom,et al.  Forward osmosis treatment of drilling mud and fracturing wastewater from oil and gas operations , 2013 .

[65]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Effects of transmembrane hydraulic pressure on performance of forward osmosis membranes. , 2013, Environmental science & technology.

[66]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Impact of organic and colloidal fouling on trace organic contaminant rejection by forward osmosis: Role of initial permeate flux , 2014 .

[67]  Linhua Fan,et al.  Biofouling of Water Treatment Membranes: A Review of the Underlying Causes, Monitoring Techniques and Control Measures , 2012, Membranes.

[68]  M R Wiesner,et al.  Peer reviewed: the promise of membrane technology. , 1999, Environmental science & technology.

[69]  Victor Yangali-Quintanilla,et al.  Rejection of micropollutants by clean and fouled forward osmosis membrane. , 2011, Water research.

[70]  Maud Villain,et al.  Impact of synthetic or real urban wastewater on membrane bioreactor (MBR) performances and membrane fouling under stable conditions. , 2014, Bioresource technology.

[71]  Chuyang Y. Tang,et al.  Study of integration of forward osmosis and biological process: Membrane performance under elevated salt environment , 2011 .

[72]  Chuyang Y. Tang,et al.  Protein fouling of nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultrafiltration membranes—The role of hydrodynamic conditions, solution chemistry, and membrane properties , 2011 .

[73]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Rejection of trace organic compounds by forward osmosis membranes: a literature review. , 2014, Environmental science & technology.

[74]  Tzahi Y. Cath,et al.  Flexible hybrid membrane treatment systems for tailored nutrient management: A new paradigm in urban wastewater treatment , 2013 .

[75]  Tzahi Y Cath,et al.  Comprehensive bench- and pilot-scale investigation of trace organic compounds rejection by forward osmosis. , 2011, Environmental science & technology.

[76]  Gary Amy,et al.  Role of soluble microbial products (SMP) in membrane fouling and flux decline. , 2006, Environmental science & technology.

[77]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Influence of active layer and support layer surface structures on organic fouling propensity of thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes. , 2015, Environmental science & technology.

[78]  Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder,et al.  Water harvesting from municipal wastewater via osmotic gradient: An evaluation of process performance , 2013 .

[79]  Heru Susanto,et al.  Photografted thin polymer hydrogel layers on PES ultrafiltration membranes: characterization, stability, and influence on separation performance. , 2007, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[80]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Bidirectional diffusion of ammonium and sodium cations in forward osmosis: role of membrane active layer surface chemistry and charge. , 2014, Environmental science & technology.

[81]  Menachem Elimelech,et al.  Fouling of reverse osmosis membranes by hydrophilic organic matter: implications for water reuse , 2006 .

[82]  M. Elimelech,et al.  Cake-enhanced concentration polarization: a new fouling mechanism for salt-rejecting membranes. , 2003, Environmental science & technology.