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Membranes
Special Issues
Membrane Fouling Control: Mechanism, Properties, and Applications
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Membrane Fouling Control: Mechanism, Properties, and Applications

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications for Water Treatment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 1355

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rui Miao

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Guest Editor
College of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
Interests: membrane filtration; ultrafiltration; membrane fouling; membrane fouling control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Pei Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Engineering Research Centre, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
Interests: wastewater treatment; advanced oxidation; membrane filtration; fouling control
Dr. Miaolu He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
Interests: membrane separation; forward osmosis; membrane fouling mechanism; membrane modification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Membrane fouling remains a pervasive challenge in membrane filtration processes, significantly impacting treatment costs, membrane permeability, operational lifespan, and effluent quality. This persistent issue represents a critical barrier to the widespread adoption of membrane technologies in water treatment and beyond. Consequently, elucidating the mechanisms underlying membrane fouling and developing effective, scalable control strategies have become a pressing focus of research in environmental science and technology.

This Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of membrane fouling mechanisms and explore innovative strategies for effective fouling control. Topics of interest include the development of antifouling and self-cleaning membrane materials, advanced pretreatment techniques, and hybrid processes that enhance filtration performance. Particular emphasis is placed on contributions that illuminate the physicochemical and biological mechanisms of membrane fouling through the use of advanced diagnostic tools, modeling techniques, and machine learning approaches. Additionally, this Special Issue highlights practical and scalable solutions tailored to industrial applications. Its topics include strategies to improve energy efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and extend membrane operational lifespans, all while aligning with sustainability objectives.

By integrating diverse disciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue aims to deepen our understanding of membrane fouling mechanisms and promote innovative strategies for fouling control. It seeks to provide researchers, engineers, and industry professionals with a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge advancements and practical insights, driving progress and innovation in membrane filtration technologies.

Prof. Dr. Rui Miao
Dr. Pei Wang
Dr. Miaolu He
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • membrane fouling control
  • membrane fouling mechanism
  • membrane filtration technology
  • advanced pretreatment method
  • hybrid filtration systems
  • fouling-resistant membrane
  • membrane surface modification
  • self-cleaning membrane

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4857 KiB  
Article
Integration of Specific Aeration Demand (SAD) into Flux-Step Test for Submerged Membrane Bioreactor
by Albert Galizia, Joaquim Comas, Ignasi Rodríguez-Roda, Gaëtan Blandin and Hèctor Monclús
Membranes 2025, 15(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15040111 - 3 Apr 2025
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Abstract
This study proposes a novel methodology to assess fouling that complements the flux-step test (FST) by integrating aeration-step tests (ASTs) to optimise the specific aeration demand (SADm) for ultrafiltration hollow-fibre (UF-HF) submerged membranes in membrane bioreactor (MBR) configurations. Three membranes with distinct manufacturing [...] Read more.
This study proposes a novel methodology to assess fouling that complements the flux-step test (FST) by integrating aeration-step tests (ASTs) to optimise the specific aeration demand (SADm) for ultrafiltration hollow-fibre (UF-HF) submerged membranes in membrane bioreactor (MBR) configurations. Three membranes with distinct manufacturing processes—non-thermal-induced phase separation (NIPS) and thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS)—were evaluated under continuous and intermittent aeration. The AST revealed that the critical SADm has a range of 0.1–0.5 m3·m−2·h−1 for continuous aeration and 0.1–0.2 m3·m−2·h−1 for intermittent aeration. NIPS membranes with homogeneous structures were less prone to fouling under intermittent aeration, while TIPS membranes with a heterogeneous structure exhibited better recovery under continuous aeration, reflecting distinct fouling dynamics. Findings indicate that the FST alone does not fully represent operational conditions, as aeration efficiency is linked to membrane structure and aeration mode. By combining the FST with ASTs, our approach enables tailored fouling control strategies, reducing energy consumption and improving MBR performance. These insights are critical for advancing toward energy-efficient wastewater treatment technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling Control: Mechanism, Properties, and Applications)
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Review

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58 pages, 3504 KiB  
Review
Fouling of Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF) Membranes by Low Molecular Weight Organic Compounds (LMWOCs), Part 2: Countermeasures and Applications
by Yasushi Maeda
Membranes 2025, 15(3), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes15030094 - 17 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Fouling, particularly from organic fouling and biofouling, poses a significant challenge in the RO/NF treatment of marginal waters, especially wastewater. Part 1 of this review detailed LMWOC fouling mechanisms. Part 2 focuses on countermeasures and applications. Effective fouling prevention relies on pretreatment, early [...] Read more.
Fouling, particularly from organic fouling and biofouling, poses a significant challenge in the RO/NF treatment of marginal waters, especially wastewater. Part 1 of this review detailed LMWOC fouling mechanisms. Part 2 focuses on countermeasures and applications. Effective fouling prevention relies on pretreatment, early detection, cleaning, optimized operation, and in situ membrane modification. Accurate fouling prediction is crucial. Preliminary tests using flat-sheet membranes or small-diameter modules are recommended. Currently, no specific fouling index exists for LMWOC fouling. Hydrophobic membranes, such as polyamide, are proposed as alternatives to the standard silt density index (SDI) filter. Once LMWOC fouling potential is assessed, suitable pretreatment methods can be implemented. These include adsorbents, specialized water filters, oxidative decomposition, and antifoulants. In situations where pretreatment is impractical, alternative strategies like high pH operation might be considered. Membrane cleaning becomes necessary upon fouling; however, standard cleaning often fails to fully restore the original flow. Specialized CIP chemicals, including organic solvent-based and oxidative agents, are required. Conversely, LMWOC fouling typically leads to a stabilized flow rate reduction rather than a continuous decline. Aggressive cleaning may be avoided if the resulting operating pressure increase is acceptable. When a significant flow rate drop occurs and LMWOC fouling is suspected, analysis of the fouled membrane is necessary for identification. Standard FT-IR often fails to detect LMWOCs. Solvent extraction followed by GC-MS is required. Pyrolysis GC-MS, which eliminates the extraction step, shows promise. The review concludes by examining how LMWOCs can be strategically utilized to enhance membrane rejection and restore deteriorated membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Fouling Control: Mechanism, Properties, and Applications)
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