Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Membrane Fouling Indices
2.1. Silt Density Index
2.2. Modified Fouling Index
2.3. Indices Derived from
2.4. Indices Derived from
2.5. Fouling Potential Parameter ()
3. Predictive Models
4. Conclusions and Perspective of Future
- (a)
- Most conventional indexes, and are not appropriate.
- (b)
- There are very few studies about indices or parameters applied directly to spiral wound membranes and feedwater with high salinity. Most of the studies are applied at the laboratory scale with well-controlled operating conditions, flat membrane systems and at low salinity. However, it is preferable for fouling potential to be determined with RO membranes and under operating conditions similar to those of full-scale desalination plants.
- (c)
- Currently, the effect of Cake-Enhanced Osmotic Pressure (CEOP) has not been taken extensively into account in measuring fouling potential. However, CEOP can contribute to a significant loss of performance, even more than the hydraulic resistance brought about by cake formation.
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Methods, Indices and Parameters | Characteristics | Equation | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
(1995, [30]) |
| Disadvantages: is a standardized method (ASTM D4189), but empirical, and it is not based on fouling mechanisms. It is not related to foulant concentration in feedwater. It does not take into account the temperature or variation in membrane resistance. | |
(J.C. Schippers and J. Verdouw, 1980 [31]) |
| Characteristics:
is an improved version of and is related to cake filtration theory. The fouling index I is obtained from the slope of the lineal region of the graph vs. V (filtrated volume). Disadvantages: It is not very accurate as foulant agents with a diameter less than 0.45 m pass across the membrane. | |
(A. Alhadini et al., 2011 [44]) |
| — | Characteristics:
is a normalization of taking into consideration the variation of temperature, pressure and membrane resistance. Different fouling mechanisms could be assumed based on line charts and parameters’ calculation. Disadvantages: It is not very accurate as foulant agents with a diameter less than 0.45 m pass across the membrane. |
(A. Alhadini et al., 2011 [44]) |
| Characteristics:
showed a more linear relationship with foulant concentration in feedwater than standard . Besides, it is independent of testing parameters, such as temperature and pressure, and less sensitive to membrane resistance. Disadvantages: It is not very accurate as foulant agents with a diameter less than 0.45 m pass across the membrane. | |
(S.F.E. Booerlage et al., 1997 [57]) |
| Characteristics: UF membrane is used instead of MF, so colloidal fouling can be detected.
is a constant, the compressibility factor of the cake and the concentration of particles in the feedwater. Disadvantages: is not able to show fouling behavior in constant flow precesses. Twenty hours are required to obtain a measurement, and the method to obtain the deposition factor is tedious. Although the UF membrane used in the tests is capable of retaining particles and colloidal matter, it is not efficient enough to retain organic matter. | |
(S.F.E. Boerlage et al., 2004 [46]) |
| Characteristics: The operating mode is constant flow as happens in the majority of actual RO processes. The fouling index
I is obtained from the slope of the graph (Net Driven Pressure) vs. filtration time. is the standard pressure (2 bar). Disadvantages: The test is performed under conditions of accelerated flow that do not allow representation of the behavior of fouling to flows of 20–30 L/mh. As with , the deposition of particles is considered through a deposition factor, and although through the UF, it is possible to retain particulate matter and colloids, it is not enough to retain the organic matter present in the feed. Despite the improvements of , the measurement cannot be simulated in cross-flow. | |
(S. Khirani et al., 2006 [42]) |
| Characteristics: The test tries to take into consideration the organic matter in the feedwater. Disadvantages: The test is carried out under constant pressure, and the deposition factor of particles in cross-flow is not considered. The total retention of organic matter is not achieved in this procedure. | |
(S.S. Adham and A.G. Fane, 2008 [48]) |
| Characteristics: This index incorporates the hydrodynamic behavior of the cross-flow in the measurement of the fouling index. CFS allow small particle to pass across the MF membrane to be deposited on the MF membrane located in
in dead-end flow. Disadvantages: Discontinued operating mode. | |
(M.A. Javeed et al., 2009 [49]) |
| Characteristics:
is measured in continuous mode. Disadvantages: It uses the same MF membrane as in , and the operating mode is at constant pressure. | |
(L.N. Sim et al., 2011 [58]) |
| Characteristics: This index takes into account the hydrodynamic effect of cross-flow and the deposition factor. is the modified resistivity of the cake. can be a more precise method to determine the effect of fouling agents on the RO process. The method is easy due to its short time of filtration. | |
(J. Choi et al., 2009 [53]) |
| Characteristics: It is a combination of various indices, denoted as
(using a Hydrophilic MF membrane), (using a MF Hydrophobic membrane) and (using a hydrophilic UF membrane). This test tries to take into consideration all types of foulant agents using different membranes. is the value of ; is the value of ; and is the value of . The weighting factors , , and depend on the characteristics of the membrane. Disadvantages: The method is difficult since it requires different types of membranes, and the procedure to obtain is very tedious. In addition, the fouling index is still measured under constant pressure conditions. | |
(Y. Yu et al., 2010 [54]) |
| — | Characteristics: MF, UF and NF membranes are connected in series for simultaneous separation of target foulants. This index was shown to be precise and selective in the prediction of the fouling potential of different feedwaters. Disadvantages: The method is not simple since it requires different types of membranes to determine the particle- , colloid- and organic-. Furthermore, the fouling indices are still measured under constant pressure conditions. |
(M. W. Naceur, 2014 [55]) |
| Characteristics: The experimental procedure is similar to
. By introducing the equation of Ruth in the model, the authors obtained a dimensionless fouling index, which is a simple linear equation. Disadvantages: Experimental work to validate was not carried out, so the accuracy of this index has not been validated. | |
“Normalized Fouling Rate” () (H.R. Rabie et al. 2001 [21]) |
| — | Characteristics: This method is used to analyze data from a pilot plant in a large-scale facility.
is the curve of the graph vs. , where is the specific volume (the volume collected per unit area and per in time t). Disadvantages: It cannot be used as a fouling potential indicator of feedwater. |
(L. Song et al. 2004 [59]) |
| Characteristics: This normalization method has the objective of eliminating the effects of different operating parameters in the determination of the fouling rate. In this way, the fouling potential of feed water can be compared on a fair basis. Disadvantages: One of its results indicates that the fouling potential of large colloidal particles increases as the operating pressure increases. This is mainly due to the compressibility effect of the cake, which is strongly related to the nature of the colloid. | |
Membrane Fouling Simulator (MFS) (J.S.Vrowenvelder et al. 2006 [60]) | — | MFS uses the same membrane materials as spiral-wound RO/NF membrane, with the same dimensions and hydrodynamic behavior, and is equipped with a visor. Suitable for in situ observations in real time, non-destructive observations and parameters such as pressure drop can be monitored. It is mainly used as a biofouling monitor [61]. Disadvantages: There is no instant response of the fouling potential. | |
Feed Fouling Monitor (FFM) (A.H. Taheri et al., 2013 [17]) | — | This technique uses a UF membrane to predict the increase of transmembrane pressure at constant fluxes in the presence of colloidal fouling. This prediction includes the developing hydraulic resistance and the CEOP components. Disadvantages: Lack of extension of this monitoring and modeling approach to real-world foulants and a full-scale RO desalination plant. | |
Feed Fouling Monitor-Salt Tracer Response (FFM-STRT) (A.H. Taheri et al., 2015 [16]) | — | This method uses the FFM including an STRT to measure the development of concentration polarization in estimating (CEOP) the contribution. Foulants studied were humic acid and colloidal silica Disadvantages: There is no instant response of the fouling potential. |
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Ruiz-García, A.; Melián-Martel, N.; Nuez, I. Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination. Membranes 2017, 7, 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes7040062
Ruiz-García A, Melián-Martel N, Nuez I. Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination. Membranes. 2017; 7(4):62. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes7040062
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuiz-García, Alejandro, Noemi Melián-Martel, and Ignacio Nuez. 2017. "Short Review on Predicting Fouling in RO Desalination" Membranes 7, no. 4: 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes7040062