Predicting the impact of feed spacer modification on biofouling by hydraulic characterization and biofouling studies in membrane fouling simulators
Type
ArticleAuthors
Siddiqui, Amber
Lehmann, S.
Bucs, Szilard

Fresquet, M.
Fel, L.
Prest, E.I.E.C.
Ogier, J.
Schellenberg, C.
van Loosdrecht, M.C.M.
Kruithof, J.C.
Vrouwenvelder, Johannes S.

KAUST Department
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) DivisionBioscience Program
Environmental Science and Engineering Program
Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center (WDRC)
Date
2016-12-22Online Publication Date
2016-12-22Print Publication Date
2017-03Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/622329
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Feed spacers are an essential part of spiral-wound reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane modules. Geometric modification of feed spacers is a potential option to reduce the impact of biofouling on the performance of membrane systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biofouling potential of two commercially available reference feed spacers and four modified feed spacers. The spacers were compared on hydraulic characterization and in biofouling studies with membrane fouling simulators (MFSs). The virgin feed spacer was characterized hydraulically by their resistance, measured in terms of feed channel pressure drop, performed by operating MFSs at varying feed water flow rates. Short-term (9 days) biofouling studies were carried out with nutrient dosage to the MFS feed water to accelerate the biofouling rate. Long-term (96 days) biofouling studies were done without nutrient dosage to the MFS feed water. Feed channel pressure drop was monitored and accumulation of active biomass was quantified by adenosine tri phosphate (ATP) determination. The six feed spacers were ranked on pressure drop (hydraulic characterization) and on biofouling impact (biofouling studies). Significantly different trends in hydraulic resistance and biofouling impact for the six feed spacers were observed. The same ranking for biofouling impact on the feed spacers was found for the (i) short-term biofouling study with nutrient dosage and the (ii) long-term biofouling study without nutrient dosage. The ranking for hydraulic resistance for six virgin feed spacers differed significantly from the ranking of the biofouling impact, indicating that hydraulic resistance of clean feed spacers does not predict the hydraulic resistance of biofouled feed spacers. Better geometric design of feed spacers can be a suitable approach to minimize impact of biofouling in spiral wound membrane systems.Citation
Siddiqui A, Lehmann S, Bucs SS, Fresquet M, Fel L, et al. (2017) Predicting the impact of feed spacer modification on biofouling by hydraulic characterization and biofouling studies in membrane fouling simulators. Water Research 110: 281–287. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.12.034.Sponsors
The research reported in this publication was supported by funding from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).Publisher
Elsevier BVJournal
Water ResearchAdditional Links
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135416309745ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.watres.2016.12.034