title: Thermodynamic analysis of effects of contact angle on interfacial interactions and its implications for membrane fouling control.
abstract: Concept of hydrophobicity always fails to accurately assess the interfacial interaction and membrane fouling, which calls for reliable parameters for this purpose. In this study, effects of contact angle on interfacial interactions related to membrane fouling were investigated based on thermodynamic analysis. It was found that, total interaction energy between sludge foulants and membrane monotonically decreases and increases with water and glycerol contact angle, respectively, indicating that these two parameters can be reliable indicators predicting total interaction energy and membrane fouling. Membrane roughness decreases interaction strength for over 20 times, and effects of membrane roughness on membrane fouling should consider water and glycerol contact angle on membrane. It was revealed existence of a critical water and glycerol contact angle for a given membrane bioreactor. Meanwhile, diiodomethane contact angle has minor effect on the total interaction, and cannot be regarded as an effective indicator assessing interfacial interactions and membrane fouling.
authors.affiliation: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors.forename: Meijia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors.forename: Huachang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Bao-Qiang
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China. Electronic address: hjlin@zjnu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013500:Surface Tension; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012722:Sewage; D014867:Water; C027946:methylene iodide; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Contact angle; Hydrophilicity; Interfacial interaction; Membrane bioreactor; Membrane fouling