The decline in the performance of spiral-wound reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes is frequently due to biofouling. This study focus on qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of SWRO membrane biofouling. Bacterial counts on the different surfaces of the fouled membranes were carried out. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was performed to highlight clogging materials as well as their natures and identity. The topography of the fouled membranes and the structures of biofilms were visualized by fluorescence microscopy (FM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the presence of bacteria in the different SWRO membrane areas. Those strongly adhered were significantly higher than those weakly. It varied between 26 × 10 and 262 × 10 CFU m. However, SERS mapping showed different fouling levels and the thickness of the fouling layer was 5 µm. Microscopic imaging revealed biotic and abiotic deposits. These data can together allow better management of the seawater desalination process.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2022.2139610 | DOI Listing |
RSC Adv
January 2025
Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo Colombo Sri Lanka
The global scarcity of irrigation-grade water poses severe concerns in the agricultural sector. Desalination techniques including reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, capacitive deionization, membrane filtration, and multi-stage flash are some dynamic solutions to mitigate this challenge. In this study, novel bio-filter materials were explored and developed for the application of membrane-based electrodialysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem B
January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Membrane and Water Treatment of MOE, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China.
Polyamide (PA) membranes are widely utilized in desalination and water treatment applications, yet the mechanisms underlying water transport within these amorphous polymer materials remain insufficiently understood. To gain more insight into these problems on a microscopic scale, we employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze the relationship between the structural properties and the water permeation behavior of PA membranes. Two distinct atomistic models of PA membranes are developed by controlling their degrees of cross-linking (DC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfect Control Hosp Epidemiol
January 2025
Department of Internal Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, USA.
A citywide boil water notice necessitated an alternative solution for treating contaminated water. We report our experience using portable reverse osmosis machines to treat the municipal water to provide purified water to patient care areas where non-sterile water was needed, preventing interruptions in services like elective surgeries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMembranes (Basel)
January 2025
Departamento de Ciencias del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 sur Col. Centro, Cd. Obregón C.P. 85000, Sonora, Mexico.
Technical and economic criteria were used to evaluate the feasibility of the treatment of an industrial effluent (10 m/h) for water recovery and reuse. The treatment evaluation included the following: (1) effluent characteristic determination; (2) selection and evaluation of the effluent treatment at lab scale, establishing operating conditions and process efficiency; (3) scaling up the treatment process to the industrial level; (4) treatment plant design and commercial availability analysis of the required equipment; and (5) the costs of the inversion and operation of the plant treatment, cost/m for water recovery, and time of investment recovery. The physicochemical characteristics of the effluent exposed the polluted wastewater with sodium chloride salts and colourants, predominating a mixture of tartrazine, Red 40, and brilliant blue from the synthesis of food additives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMembranes (Basel)
January 2025
Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
Reverse osmosis (RO) filtration performance is heavily influenced by the design of the feed spacer. Spacer design impacts hydrodynamic patterns within the system, affecting water production and concentration polarization. Two spacer designs, namely pillar (P) and standard (S), were investigated to improve the performance of a commercially available spacer design (C) in the RO process.
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