Impact of a biofouling layer on the vapor pressure driving force and performance of a membrane distillation process

Goh, S; Zhang, Q; Zhang, J; McDougald, D; Krantz, WB; Liu, Y; Fane, AG

Impact of a biofouling layer on the vapor pressure driving force and performance of a membrane distillation process

Goh, S Zhang, Q Zhang, J McDougald, D

Krantz, WB Liu, Y Fane, AG

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Membrane Science, 2013, 438 pp. 140 - 152
Issue Date:: 2013-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Goh, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, Q	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	McDougald, D https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5827-8441	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Krantz, WB	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Liu, Y	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fane, AG	en_US
dc.date.issued	2013-07-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Membrane Science, 2013, 438 pp. 140 - 152	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0376-7388	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116229
dc.description.abstract	The heat and mass transfer resistances of fouling layers can cause a significant flux decline in a membrane distillation (MD) process. In addition, the hydrophilicity and microporous nature of a fouling layer can affect the driving force and correspondingly the flux in MD via curvature effects on the vapor pressure as described by the Kelvin equation. This study explores the effect of the hydrophilicity of the sludge on the particle size, vapor pressure and pore-size distribution (PSD) in the biofouling layer and on the permeation flux in cross-flow MD. Two sets of hydrophilic sludge cultures were selected via the Microbial-Adhesion-to-Hydrocarbon method. Cross-flow MD experiments conducted with these two sludges displayed a 60% reduction in the flux relative to using a Milli-Q water feed. However, there was no significant difference in the fluxes for the two sludges. Characterization of the pore-size distribution of the two sludges using evapoporometry, a novel technique based on the vapor-pressure depression caused by small pores, indicated a vapor-pressure depression of 31% and 21% for the more- and less-hydrophilic sludges, respectively. However the effect of the 10% difference in vapor-pressure depression, when combined with the effect of the biofouling layer on the heat- and mass-transfer resistances, could not be detected within the experimental error in this study. Nevertheless, a major conclusion is that the vapor-pressure depression caused by a biofouling layer, or other foulants, could cause a significant reduction in the driving force for MD. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Membrane Science	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.memsci.2013.03.023	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Chemical Engineering	en_US
dc.title	Impact of a biofouling layer on the vapor pressure driving force and performance of a membrane distillation process	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	438	en_US
utslib.for	090404 Membrane and Separation Technologies	en_US
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	09 Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ithree - Institute of Infection, Immunity and Innovation
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	438	en_US

Abstract:

The heat and mass transfer resistances of fouling layers can cause a significant flux decline in a membrane distillation (MD) process. In addition, the hydrophilicity and microporous nature of a fouling layer can affect the driving force and correspondingly the flux in MD via curvature effects on the vapor pressure as described by the Kelvin equation. This study explores the effect of the hydrophilicity of the sludge on the particle size, vapor pressure and pore-size distribution (PSD) in the biofouling layer and on the permeation flux in cross-flow MD. Two sets of hydrophilic sludge cultures were selected via the Microbial-Adhesion-to-Hydrocarbon method. Cross-flow MD experiments conducted with these two sludges displayed a 60% reduction in the flux relative to using a Milli-Q water feed. However, there was no significant difference in the fluxes for the two sludges. Characterization of the pore-size distribution of the two sludges using evapoporometry, a novel technique based on the vapor-pressure depression caused by small pores, indicated a vapor-pressure depression of 31% and 21% for the more- and less-hydrophilic sludges, respectively. However the effect of the 10% difference in vapor-pressure depression, when combined with the effect of the biofouling layer on the heat- and mass-transfer resistances, could not be detected within the experimental error in this study. Nevertheless, a major conclusion is that the vapor-pressure depression caused by a biofouling layer, or other foulants, could cause a significant reduction in the driving force for MD. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116229