title: Membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor with focus on surface properties and interactions of cake sludge and bulk sludge.
abstract: In this study, the fouling behaviors and surface properties of cake sludge and bulk sludge in a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) were investigated and compared. It was found that the specific filtration resistance (SFR) of cake sludge was about 5 times higher than that of bulk sludge. Two types of sludge possessed similar extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content, particle size distribution (PSD) and zeta potential. However, their surface properties in terms of surface tensions were significantly different. Further analysis showed that cake sludge was more hydrophilic and had worse aggregation ability. Moreover, cake sludge surface possessed more hydrocarbon, less oxygen and nitrogen moieties than bulk sludge surface. It was suggested that, rather than EPS and PSD differences, the differences in the surface composition were the main cause of the great differences in SFR and adhesion ability between cake sludge and bulk sludge.
authors: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors: Haiying
authors: H
authors: Yu
authors: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China. Electronic address: hjlin@zjnu.cn.
authors: Hongjun
authors: H
authors: Lin
authors: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors: Meijia
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors: Huachang
authors: H
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Materials Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors: Yiming
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors: Fangyuan
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Reactive Chemistry on Solid Surfaces, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors: Leihong
authors: L
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D019149:Bioreactors; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D005374:Filtration; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010316:Particle Size; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity; D013500:Surface Tension; D013816:Thermodynamics; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Interaction energy; Membrane fouling; Specific filtration resistance; Surface tension