title: A mechanistic study of in situ chemical cleaning-in-place for a PTFE flat sheet membrane: fouling mitigation and membrane characterization.
abstract: This study aimed at unfolding the role and mechanisms of chemically enhanced cleaning-in-place (CIP) regimes in fouling control of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) made flat sheet (FS) membrane bio-reactors (MBRs). The trans-membrane pressure (TMP) was successfully maintained below 10 kPa using a daily CIP regime consisting of 100 to 600 mg l(-1) of NaOCl and cake layer resistance control was shown to be critical for effective high-flux MBR operation. In contrast, in the control unit without the CIP, the TMP exceeded 35 kPa at a flux of 40 LMH. The extracellular polymeric substances associated with proteins (EPSprotein) were also controlled effectively with a daily application of the CIP to the fouled membrane. Moreover, the CIP prompted a thinner and looser bio-cake layer on the membrane surface, suggesting that in situ CIP can be a favorable method to control FS membrane fouling at high-flux MBR operation.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science & Technology , School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , PR China.
authors.forename: Eui-Jong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science & Technology , School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , PR China.
authors.forename: Alicia K J
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science & Technology , School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , PR China.
authors.forename: Pejman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Science & Technology , the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , PR China.
authors.forename: Dickson Y S
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: c Department of Food and Nutrition , School of Human Ecology, The University of Suwon , Hwaseong-Si , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010539:Permeability; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene
keywords: Bio-cake layer; cleaning-in-place; extracellular polymeric substances; membrane bioreactor; membrane fouling