title: A novel composite conductive microfiltration membrane and its anti-fouling performance with an external electric field in membrane bioreactors.
abstract: Membrane fouling remains an obstacle to wide-spread applications of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment and reclamation. Herein, we report a simple method to prepare a composite conductive microfiltration (MF) membrane by introducing a stainless steel mesh into a polymeric MF membrane and to effectively control its fouling by applying an external electric field. Linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses showed that this conductive membrane had very good electrochemical properties. Batch tests demonstrated its anti-fouling ability in filtration of bovine serum albumin, sodium alginate, humic acid and silicon dioxide particles as model foulants. The fouling rate in continuous-flow MBRs treating wastewater was also decreased by about 50% for this conductive membrane with 2 V/cm electric field compared to the control test during long-term operation. The enhanced electrostatic repulsive force between foulants and membrane, in-situ cleaning by H2O2 generated from oxygen reduction, and decreased production of soluble microbial products and extracellular polymeric substances contributed to fouling mitigation in this MBR. The results of this study shed light on the control strategy of membrane fouling for achieving a sustainable operation of MBRs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Junyao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xingran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhichao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D002417:Cattle; D004560:Electricity; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006812:Humic Substances; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006812:Humic Substances; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013193:Stainless Steel; D062065:Wastewater