title: Preparation and application of patterned membranes for wastewater treatment.
abstract: Membrane fouling remains a critical factor limiting the widespread use of membrane processes in water and wastewater treatment. To mitigate membrane fouling, we introduced a patterned morphology on the membrane surface using a lithographic method. A modified immersion precipitation method was developed to relieve the formation of dense layer at the solvent-nonsolvent interface, that is, the opposite side of the patterned surface. Diverse patterned membranes, such as pyramid-, prism-, and embossing-patterned membranes, were prepared and compared with a flat membrane in terms of morphology, permeability, and biofouling. Patterned membrane fidelity was largely dependent on the polymer concentration in cast solution. The patterned surface augmented the water flux in proportion to the roughness factor of the patterned membrane. However, the type of pattern did not affect substantially the mean pore size on the patterned surface. Deposition of microbial cells on the patterned membrane was significantly reduced compared to that on the flat membrane in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. This was attributed to hydraulic resistance of the apex of the patterned surface, which induced local turbulence.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-June
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Jaewoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Chan
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hee Ro
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Inae
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chung-Hak
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In-Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical