Impact of sludge composition on membrane fouling contributions under different filtration modes

Abstract

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to investigate how different factors of sludge compositions and stages of filtration affecting on membrane fouling mechanisms.  The eight designed experiments based on two different levels (low and high) of each factor including sludge concentration, EPS concentration and flux stage (supra-critical flux and sub-critical flux) were adopted.  The membrane fouling mechanisms was monitored using the resistance series model with different steps of fouling removal.  The results showed that a great portion of cake fouling appeared under supra-critical flux operation.  Minor development of pore fouling was observed for both under sub-critical flux and supra-critical flux operations.  Besides, the total fouling resistance was increased with the enhancement of sludge concentration supra-critical flux operation under resulting in cake thickness increasing.