Impact of reverse nutrient diffusion on membrane biofouling in fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis
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Type
ArticleAuthors
Li, Sheng
Kim, Youngjin

Chekli, Laura
Phuntsho, Sherub
Shon, Ho Kyong
Leiknes, TorOve

Ghaffour, NorEddine

KAUST Department
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) DivisionEnvironmental Science and Engineering Program
Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center (WDRC)
Date
2017-05-31Online Publication Date
2017-05-31Print Publication Date
2017-10Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/624036
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Biofouling in fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) for water reuse was investigated by spiking pure bacteria species Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1+GFP and using three different fertilizers KNO3, KCl and KH2PO4 as draw solutions. The performance of FO process for treating synthetic wastewater was assessed and their influence on the membrane fouling and in particular biofouling was evaluated relative to the type of different fertilizers used and their rates of reverse diffusion. FO performances using KNO3 as draw solute exhibited severer flux decline (63%) than when using KCl (45%) and KH2PO4 (30%). Membrane autopsy indicated that the mass of organic foulants and biomass on fouled membrane surface using KNO3 as draw solute (947.5mg/m2 biopolymers, 72µm biofilm thickness and 53.3mg/m2 adenosine triphosphate) were significantly higher than that using KCl (450mg/m2 biopolymers, 33µm biofilm thickness and 28.2mg/m2 ATP) and KH2PO4 (440mg/m2 biopolymers, 35µm biofilm thickness and 33.5mg/m2 ATP). This higher flux decline is likely related to the higher reverse diffusion of KNO3 (19.8g/m2/h) than KCl (5.1g/m2/h) and KH2PO4 (3.7g/m2/h). The reverse diffused potassium could promote the organics and bacterial adhesion on FO membrane via charge screening effect and compression of electrical double layer. Moreover, reverse diffused nitrate provided increased N:P nutrient ratio was favorable for the bacteria to grow on the feed side of the FO membrane.Citation
Li S, Kim Y, Chekli L, Phuntsho S, Shon HK, et al. (2017) Impact of reverse nutrient diffusion on membrane biofouling in fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis. Journal of Membrane Science 539: 108–115. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2017.05.074.Sponsors
The research reported in this paper was supported from the SEED program of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, ARC Future Fellowship (FT140101208) and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) chancellor's postdoctoral research fellowship. The help, assistance and support of the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC) staff are greatly appreciated.Publisher
Elsevier BVJournal
Journal of Membrane ScienceAdditional Links
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376738816318890ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.memsci.2017.05.074