title: Fouling behavior of typical organic foulants in polyvinylidene fluoride ultrafiltration membranes: characterization from microforces.
abstract: To further unravel the organic fouling behavior of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, the adhesion forces of membrane-foulant and foulant-foulant were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in conjunction with self-made PVDF colloidal probe and foulant-coated colloidal probe, respectively. Fouling experiments with bovine serum albumin, sodium alginate, humic acid, and secondary wastewater effluent organic matter (EfOM) were carried out with PVDF UF membrane. Results showed a positive correlation between the membrane-foulant adhesion force and the flux decline rate and extent in the initial filtration stage, whereas the foulant-foulant interaction force was closely related to the pseudostable flux and the cake layer structure in the later filtration stage. For each type of foulant used, the membrane-foulant adhesion force was much stronger than the foulant-foulant interaction force, and membrane flux decline mainly occurred in the earlier filtration stage indicating that elimination of the membrane-foulant interaction force is important for the control of membrane fouling. Upon considering the foulant-foulant interaction force and the membrane flux recovery rate of fouled membranes, it was evident that the main contributor to physically irreversible fouling is the foulant-foulant interaction force.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Yan Ta Road. No. 13, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Yongzhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Danxi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ziwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ju
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000464:Alginates / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D057219:Biofouling; D002417:Cattle; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000032:analysis; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D003102:Colloids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006812:Humic Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers