title: A synergetic analysis method for antifouling behavior investigation on PES ultrafiltration membrane with self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles.
abstract: Fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes is a major impediment for their use in drinking water production. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) may have great opportunities in dealing with this challenge due to their hierarchical structures and multiple functionalities. In this study, a synergetic analysis method based on intermolecular adhesion force measurement and fouling process simulation was applied to investigate the fouling mechanism of polyethersulfone (PES) UF membranes containing in situ self-assembled TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The fouling resistance behavior and antifouling mechanism of the newly developed composite membranes were investigated with sodium alginate (SA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA) as model organic foulants. An improved antifouling effect was conspicuously observed for the composite membranes, expressed by a lower flux decline and significantly better cleaning efficiency. A strong correlation between the self-assembled structure of TiO2 NPs and the antifouling behavior of the composite membrane was observed. A lower magnitude and a narrower distribution of adhesion forces for the composite membrane suggest the effective suppression of foulants adsorption on the clean or fouled membrane. The simulation analysis indicates that the main fouling mechanism was standard blocking and cake filtration, further confirming the superiority of the NPs self-assembled structure in mitigating membrane fouling. This dual analysis method may provide a promising technological support for the application of modified UF membranes with self-assembled NPs in drinking water production.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province for Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environment and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province for Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environment and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China. Electronic address: lijsh@mail.njust.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province for Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environment and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province for Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environment and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
authors.forename: Kariboz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakzhan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province for Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environment and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China. Electronic address: ljwang@mail.njust.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lianjun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Electronic address: Bart.VanderBruggen@cit.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van der Bruggen
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D013450:Sulfones; C009495:titanium dioxide; C022840:polyether sulfone; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Antifouling; Antifouling mechanism; Fouling behavior; Self-assembly membrane