DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL FUNCTIONALIZED MEMBRANES FOR ANTIFOULING PERFORMANCES IN WATER OR WASTERWATER TREATMENT

Abstract

In this study, novel membranes were developed to effectively prevent or reduce membrane biofouling and organic fouling. Various approaches aiming at controlling or altering the nature and strength of interactions between membrane surface and biological or organic foulants in water were attempted and examined. In the prevention of membrane biofouling, two strategies were used. One strategy was to inhibit the growth and reproduction of microbes on a membrane surface. Silver was introduced onto membrane surfaces as a biocide. The other strategy was to avoid the attachment of microbes onto a membrane surface. A membrane surface exhibiting both hydrophilic and oleophobic surface properties was prepared and tested with some typical microorganisms. In the prevention of membrane organic fouling, the major attention was placed on the prevention of organic matter adsorption on a membrane surface. Again, membrane surfaces with both hydeophilicity and oleophobicity was prepared and tested with a broad spectrum of organic substances including protein, NOM and oils.