Colloidal fouling of reverse osmosis membranes

Fouling Prediction in Reverse Osmosis Processes

In recent years, membrane separation processes have successfully established footholds in all areas of chemical separations. Semipermeable membranes are now enhancing and even replacing long-time standard techniques such as distillation and solvent extraction (1). They are also being used in the preparation of purified chemical and biological products as well as the treatment and recovery of ma...

Polymer surface nano-structuring of reverse osmosis membranes for fouling resistance and improved flux performance†

A new class of surface-structured RO membranes was developed with a hydrophilic brush layer of terminally anchored polymer chains resulting in fouling resistant membranes of low mineral scaling propensity and high permeability. The approach is based on free-radical graft polymerization of a suitable monomer, onto the active polyamide (PA) layer of a thin film composite (PA-TFC) membrane, post-s...

Effects of feed solution characteristics and membrane fouling on N-nitrosamine rejection by reverse osmosis membranes

Augmentation of potable water sources with reclaimed municipal wastewater is an option of increasing importance for water security in regions and countries where severe water stress occurs. Consequently, the presence of emerging trace contaminants in reclaimed water has been recognised as a critical issue due to their potential adverse health effects. Notable examples of these trace organic che...

Effects of membrane fouling and scaling on boron rejection by nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes

Fouling of reverse osmosis membranes using electrical impedance spectroscopy: Measurements and simulations

The use of modern high flux reverse osmosis membranes with low salinity feeds at high recovery rates, makes the measurement of fouling by flux decline difficult in practice. Early detection of fouling is important, because the onset of fouling occurs at a critical flux which is difficult to predict a priori. An alternative method, measuring the electrical properties of the membrane is proposed ...