Thermodynamic assessment of adsorptive fouling with the membranes modified via layer-by-layer self-assembly technique.
In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membrane was coated by dipping the membrane alternatingly in solutions of the polyelectrolytes (poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) and polystyrenesulfonate (PSS)) via layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique to improve the membrane antifouling ability. Filtration experiments showed that, sludge cake layer on the coated membrane could be more easily washed off, and moreover, the remained flux ratio (RFR) of the coated membrane was obviously improved as compared with the control membrane. Characterization of the membranes showed that a polyelectrolyte layer was successfully coated on the membrane surfaces, and the hydrophilicity, surface charge and surface morphology of the coated membrane were changed. Based on the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) approaches, quantification of interfacial interactions between foulants and membranes in three different scenarios was achieved. It was revealed that there existed a repulsive energy barrier when a particle foulant adhered to membrane surface, and the enhanced electrostatic double layer (EL) interaction and energy barrier should be responsible for the improved antifouling ability of the coated membrane. This study provided a combined solution to membrane modification and interaction energy evaluation related with membrane fouling simultaneously.
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
Liguo
L
Shen
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
Xia
X
Cui
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
Genying
G
Yu
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
Fengquan
F
Li
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Liang
L
Li
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China.
Shushu
S
Feng
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China. Electronic address: jaylin1978@163.com.
Hongjun
H
Lin
College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, PR China. Electronic address: cjr@zjnu.cn.
Jianrong
J
Chen
Interfacial interaction; Layer-by-layer assembly; Membrane bioreactor; Membrane fouling; Membrane modification