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Advanced Membrane Fouling Characterization in Full-Scale Reverse Osmosis Processes

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Membrane and Desalination Technologies

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 13))

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Abstract

Fouling alleviation and control in full-scale reverse osmosis (RO) processes can be seriously hindered by ineffective fouling characterization. Fouling characterization is currently done primarily by measuring the silt density index (SDI) of feed water and monitoring the average permeate flux of full-scale RO processes. However, the SDI or related fouling indices have been known not capable to catch all possible foulants to RO membranes, and the average permeate flux may fail to correctly reflect membrane fouling in full-scale RO processes under certain circumstances.

In this chapter, an advanced characterization method is introduced for membrane fouling in full-scale RO processes. An inclusive fouling potential indicator is proposed for a better characterization of the fouling strength of feed water, which is defined in a way that it can be easily determined with a small lab-scale RO membrane device and that it is readily usable to predict fouling development in the full-scale RO processes. A model based on basic membrane filtration and mass conservation principles is presented to calculate the average permeate flux in a full-scale RO process as fouling is progressing. The main intention of the advanced characterization method is to provide a reliable assessment of membrane fouling in the full-scale RO processes, so that the need for pilot tests can be significantly reduced.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas Technological University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Lianfa Song

  2. Environmental Engineering Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore

    Kwee Guan Tay

Authors
  1. Lianfa Song
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  2. Kwee Guan Tay
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, New York, NY, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE

  2. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  3. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  4. Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore

    Jiaping Paul Chen PhD

  5. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Yung-Tse Hung PhD, PE, DEE

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Song, L., Tay, K.G. (2011). Advanced Membrane Fouling Characterization in Full-Scale Reverse Osmosis Processes. In: Wang, L.K., Chen, J.P., Hung, YT., Shammas, N.K. (eds) Membrane and Desalination Technologies. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 13. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-278-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-278-6_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-940-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-278-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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