title: New insights into the fouling mechanism of dissolved organic matter applying nanofiltration membranes with a variety of surface chemistries.
abstract: Nanofiltration (NF) membrane fouling by DOM remains a major and poorly understood issue. To acquire a better insight we studied the fouling of the DOM fractions humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs), with and without Ca(2+), on native and grafted ceramic NF membranes. Grafting with two methods and three different grafting groups allowed to create a range of membranes with a variety of surface chemistries, and a wide range of surface polarity, much broader than ever used in previous studies. A typical polymer (polyamide) NF membrane was included for comparison. All obtained results reveal that membrane fouling is not determined by membrane hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity as a general and sole criterion, but rather on the whole of the surface chemistry determining the amount and strength of the possible foulant-membrane interactions. As a consequence the effect of inorganic ions on the fouling is also dependent on the surface chemistry. Important new insight in the DOM fouling mechanism was acquired, shedding new light on the state-of-the-art knowledge.
authors.affiliation: VITO NV - Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Laboratory of Adsorption and Catalysis (LADCA), Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: VITO NV - Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kenny
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wyns
authors.affiliation: VITO NV - Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. Electronic address: anita.buekenhoudt@vito.be.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buekenhoudt
authors.affiliation: VITO NV - Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Laboratory of Adsorption and Catalysis (LADCA), Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meynen
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009757:Nylons; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012996:Solutions
keywords: DOM fractions; Fouling mechanism; Inorganic ions; Membrane fouling; Nanofiltration; Water treatment