title: Characterisation of RO fouling in an integrated MBR/RO system for wastewater reuse.
abstract: Membrane filtration has gradually gained acceptance as the preferred pre-treatment for reverse osmosis (RO). In this paper, an integrated membrane bioreactor (MBR)/RO system for wastewater reuse treating real sewage water has been evaluated and the RO fouling has been characterised. The MBR achieved low values of organic matter, total nitrogen, PO(4)(3-), total organic carbon, turbidity and conductivity. Filtration with two different RO commercial membranes was performed after the MBR pre-treatment and the same average fouling rate (0.08 bar day(-1)) was noted. These results gained from the characterisation of the high quality MBR/RO permeate show its potential for water reuse. Inorganic precipitation appears to be the predominant form of fouling in the RO membranes. Calcium phosphate and alumino-silicates were identified by a scanning electron microscope combined with an energy dispersive X-ray and polysaccharides, amide and aliphatic structures were detected with attenuated total reflection infrared microspectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Girona Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monclús
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cortada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aumatell
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adroer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Lamo-Castellví
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Comas
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D019149:Bioreactors; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009995:Osmosis; D062065:Wastewater; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater