title: Microalgae recovery by ultrafiltration using novel fouling-resistant PVDF membranes with in situ PEGylated polyethyleneimine particles.
abstract: In this article, we report the preparation, characterization and microalgae recovery potential of a new family of fouling-resistant polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes embedded with hydrophilic and PEGylated polymeric particles. To optimize membrane performance for microalgae harvesting, we investigate the effects of three hydrophilic additives (Pluronic F-127, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol) on the morphology, pore size, bulk composition, surface composition, wettability and surface charge, flux and fouling resistance of the mixed matrix PVDF membranes with in situ PEGylated polyethyleneimine (PEI) particles. Our filtration experiments show that a mixed matrix PVDF membrane with PEGylated PEI particles and Pluronic F-127 additive (PNSM-1) has an algae retention of 100% with a permeate flux of 96 L/m(2)/hr that is larger (by ∼50%) than that of a commercial and hydrophilic PVDF UF membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 30 kDa using a suspension of Chlorella sp. KR-1 microalgae with 1.2-1.4 g/L of dry biomass. The algae and water flux recovery rates of our new PNSM-1 are equal to∼ 94% and 100%, respectively, following a simulated membrane wash with deionized water and two subsequent water and microalgae filtration cycles.
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 305701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Taewoon
authors: T
authors: Hwang
authors: Graduate School of Energy, Environment, Water and Sustainability (EEWS), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Madhusudhana Rao
authors: MR
authors: Kotte
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 305701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jong-In
authors: JI
authors: Han
authors: Biomass and Waste Energy Laboratory, Climate Change Research Division, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea.
authors: You-Kwan
authors: YK
authors: Oh
authors: Graduate School of Energy, Environment, Water and Sustainability (EEWS), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mdiallo@kaist.ac.kr.
authors: Mamadou S
authors: MS
authors: Diallo
mesh_terms: D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D058086:Microalgae; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
keywords: Fouling resistant membranes; Microalgae harvesting; Mixed matrix membranes; Resource recovery; Water treatment