A mechanistic model was derived for direct flow microfiltration (MF), one which lends more insight into the factors that control MF performance compared to a statistical curve-fitting procedure that is often used to estimate chemical cleaning intervals at pilot-scale. This theoretical approach to MF fouling was based on fundamental feed water, membrane, and cake characteristics and was shown to...

The fluorescent compound trisodium, 3-hydroxy-5,8,10-pyrenetrisulfonate (PTS) was used to quantify the apoplastic flux through red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) root systems-that portion of the total water flux reaching the xylem without ever crossing a semipermeable membrane. Flow was induced by pressure through detopped root systems, and by transpiration through intact seedlings. Apoplastic flux...

In the current research, ABS-co-PEG nanofiltration membrane was prepared by solution casting technique using N, N dimethyl acetamide as solvent. The effect of PEG concentration as additive in the casting solution on membrane flux, salt rejection, phase inversion time, water content, membrane porosity, membrane tensile strength and fouling was studied. Also the eff...

Internal concentration polarization (ICP) in forward osmosis (FO) process is a characteristic problem for asymmetric thin-film composite (TFC) FO membrane which leads to lower water flux. To mitigate the ICP effect, modification of the substrates' properties has been one of the most effective methods. A new polyethersulfone-based ultrafiltration membrane with increased surface porosity and high...

In this work, polyvinylchloride (PVC) membrane prepared via casting solution technique and phase inversion method. N, N dimethylacetamide (DMAC) was used as primary solvent and Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was used as a co-solvent. The effects of parameters such as membrane thickness, evaporation time of casting film before immersion precipitation and addition of polyethylenglchol (PEG) on PVC membran...

It is well understood that the adsorption of solutes at the interface between a bulk liquid crystal phase and an aqueous phase can lead to orientational or anchoring transitions. A different principle is introduced here, whereby a transient reorientation of a thermotropic liquid crystal is triggered by a spontaneous flux of water across the interface. A critical water flux can be generated by t...

River water was treated by ultrafiltration at a relatively low transmembrane pressure (40 mbar). As observed before, flux stabilization occurred after several days of operation although no back-flushing or cross flow was applied. Interruptions in flux were applied by temporary offset of the transmembrane pressure. After restoration of the transmembrane pressure, the initial flux was higher than...

The performance of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes was related to the properties of support layers. In this study, polysulfone (PSf) membranes formed by the phase inversion process under various concentrations of PSf and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) additive were used as support layers to prepare polyamide (PA) TFC membranes by the interfacial polymerization (IP). The effects of PSf and PVP c...

The discovery of aquaporins has provided a new basis for studying and interpreting water relations in plants. However, slow progress has been made in elucidating the functional facets of the aquaporin-mediated water pathway in whole plant systems. While increasing experimental evidence suggests that these proteins are directly involved in mediating water homeostasis at varying environmental con...

This study proposes a framework for estimating pollutant flux in an estuary. An efficient method is applied to estimate the flux of pollutants in an estuary. A gauging station network in the Danshui River estuary is established to measure the data of water quality and discharge based on the efficient method. A boat mounted with an acoustic Doppler profiler (ADP) traverses the river along a pres...