Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water
Organic fouling during reverse osmosis (RO) is exacerbated by the presence of calcium up to a limit where extremely high calcium concentration results in lesser fouling due to formation of large organic-calcium aggregates with lower cake resistance. Therefore, this work leveraged on this phenomenon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Advanced Membranes |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772823424000162 |
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| author | Oranso T. Mahlangu Samkeliso S. Ndzimandze Mxolisi M. Motsa Bhekie B. Mamba |
| author_facet | Oranso T. Mahlangu Samkeliso S. Ndzimandze Mxolisi M. Motsa Bhekie B. Mamba |
| author_sort | Oranso T. Mahlangu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Organic fouling during reverse osmosis (RO) is exacerbated by the presence of calcium up to a limit where extremely high calcium concentration results in lesser fouling due to formation of large organic-calcium aggregates with lower cake resistance. Therefore, this work leveraged on this phenomenon and used calcium chloride as coagulant (at varying concentration) to reduce membrane fouling while enhancing NOM removal. Membrane cleaning efficiency through calcium-EDTA chelation which disintegrates the fouling layers was explored. RO fouling was performed with sodium alginate solutions and lake water. The fouled membranes were soaked in 0.1 mM EDTA (1 h) and backwashed with water to remove the fouling layer. Alginate fouling was worsened (45–85 %) by increase in calcium concentration up to 5 mM but lessened at > 5 mM calcium concentration (35–15 %). Similar observations were made when filtering lake water, except that lesser fouling was observed at calcium concentrations greater than 15 mM. Membrane soaking in EDTA enhanced cleaning efficiency leading to over 90 % flux recovery for both alginate and late water. However, prolonged membrane exposure to 10 mM calcium resulted in slight decline in membrane salt rejection (<2 % change) and tensile stress (1.3–1.1 N/mm2), while the membrane flux increased (<3 % change). Finally, NOM removal improved with calcium addition (up to 90 %) – key in reducing potential formation of disinfection by-products due to addition of disinfection agents. The proposed use of calcium as a common coagulant/chelating agent for fouling mitigation/remediation during advanced membrane filtration has a potential for wider application and commercialization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f517e65e0b146ab9b5f7c0ce4c51e68 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-8234 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Membranes |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f517e65e0b146ab9b5f7c0ce4c51e682025-01-01T05:11:38ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Advanced Membranes2772-82342024-01-014100105Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake waterOranso T. Mahlangu0Samkeliso S. Ndzimandze1Mxolisi M. Motsa2Bhekie B. Mamba3Corresponding author.; Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1709, Roodepoort, South AfricaInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1709, Roodepoort, South AfricaInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1709, Roodepoort, South AfricaInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1709, Roodepoort, South AfricaOrganic fouling during reverse osmosis (RO) is exacerbated by the presence of calcium up to a limit where extremely high calcium concentration results in lesser fouling due to formation of large organic-calcium aggregates with lower cake resistance. Therefore, this work leveraged on this phenomenon and used calcium chloride as coagulant (at varying concentration) to reduce membrane fouling while enhancing NOM removal. Membrane cleaning efficiency through calcium-EDTA chelation which disintegrates the fouling layers was explored. RO fouling was performed with sodium alginate solutions and lake water. The fouled membranes were soaked in 0.1 mM EDTA (1 h) and backwashed with water to remove the fouling layer. Alginate fouling was worsened (45–85 %) by increase in calcium concentration up to 5 mM but lessened at > 5 mM calcium concentration (35–15 %). Similar observations were made when filtering lake water, except that lesser fouling was observed at calcium concentrations greater than 15 mM. Membrane soaking in EDTA enhanced cleaning efficiency leading to over 90 % flux recovery for both alginate and late water. However, prolonged membrane exposure to 10 mM calcium resulted in slight decline in membrane salt rejection (<2 % change) and tensile stress (1.3–1.1 N/mm2), while the membrane flux increased (<3 % change). Finally, NOM removal improved with calcium addition (up to 90 %) – key in reducing potential formation of disinfection by-products due to addition of disinfection agents. The proposed use of calcium as a common coagulant/chelating agent for fouling mitigation/remediation during advanced membrane filtration has a potential for wider application and commercialization.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772823424000162Organic foulingCalcium-NOM disintegrationEDTAMembrane cleaningNOM removal |
| spellingShingle | Oranso T. Mahlangu Samkeliso S. Ndzimandze Mxolisi M. Motsa Bhekie B. Mamba Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water Advanced Membranes Organic fouling Calcium-NOM disintegration EDTA Membrane cleaning NOM removal |
| title | Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water |
| title_full | Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water |
| title_fullStr | Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water |
| title_short | Leveraging calcium-NOM complexation phenomenon as RO fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water |
| title_sort | leveraging calcium nom complexation phenomenon as ro fouling mitigation strategy during treatment of lake water |
| topic | Organic fouling Calcium-NOM disintegration EDTA Membrane cleaning NOM removal |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772823424000162 |
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