• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.331-338
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the membrane fouling and sludge characteristics in a pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated under low temperature ($7^{\circ}C$). To elucidate the mechanisms of membrane fouling at low temperature, we studied the correlation between MBR performances and physicochemical properties of sludge including extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), relative hydrophobicity (RH) and floc size during long-term operation. The MBR was shown able to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) stably and efficiently (>90 %) in the case of overgrowth of filamentous bacteria (bulking sludge) at low temperature. On the other hand, the occurrence of filamentous bulking greatly accelerated membrane fouling, as indicated by membrane filtration period of 14 days for filamentous bulking at $7^{\circ}C$, in comparison with that of 27 days for non-bulking sludge at $24^{\circ}C$ The overgrowth of filamentous bacteria resulting from low-temperature condition led to an increased release of EPS, higher RH, smaller floc size and lower fractal dimension of sludge. These factors accelerated the formation of compact cake layer on membrane surface in association with performance diminution in terms of increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) of the membrane and thus the decrease in membrane permeability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2006

The ceramic microfiltration system with periodic $N_2$-back-flushing was operated for treating paper wastewater discharged from a company making toilet papers by recycling milk or juice cartons. Two kinds of alumina membranes with 7 channels used here for recycling paper wastewater. The optimal filtration time interval for HC04 membrane with $0.4{\mu}m$ pore size was lower value of 4 min than 16 min for HC10 with $1.0{\mu}m$ pore size at fixed back-flushing time 40 sec, trans-membrane pressure $1.0kg_f/cm^2$ and back-flushing pressure $5.0kg_f/cm^2$. From the results of TMP effect at fixed filtration time interval and back-flushing time, the lower TMP was better on membrane fouling because high TMP could make easily membrane cake and fouling inside membrane structure. However, we could acquire the highest volume of total permeate at the highest TMP for the reason that TMP was driving force in our filtration system to treat paper wastewater. Then the permeate water of low turbidity was acquired in our microfiltration system using multi channels ceramic membranes, and the treated water could be reused in paper process.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 1998

The cutting oil emulsion microfiltration was carried out on dead-end call and crossflow systems equipped with 0.22 $\mu$m GVHP Millipore and 0.2 m stainless steel Mott microfiltration membranes, respectivdy. The oil drop size in the emulsion was varied from 0.07 to 0.22 $\mu$m. Cake filtration(CFM) and standard pore blocking models(SPBM) were applied to predict the permeation flux. The permeation fluxes of 0.01 vol% oil emulsion followed CFM for dead-end system very well under the condition of 400 rpm and below 100 kPa. The SPBM was, however, suitable for the permeation flux at 400 rpm and above 150 kPa. The oil layer on the membrane surface was destroyed and reproduced repeatedly as operating pressure was suddenly changed from 60 to 200 kPa, and then returned to 60 kPa. Also, we estimated the critical entry pressure(CEP) which is changed from CFM to SPBM, and CEP for dead-end system was around 100 kPa. The CEP increased from around 100 to 150 kPa for the crossflow system as the oil concentration increased from 0.01 to 0.03 vol% when Reynolds number was 7080.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.338-348
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• 2005

The permeate flux decline on microfiltration capillary membrane operation was investigated with inorganic colloidal solutions. The permeate flux of the alumina solution is two times higher in average than that of the bentonite solution. The flux decline with increase in operation time was less in the alumina solution than in the bentonite solution. The rate of initial flux decline until 10 min was higher on the bentonite solution over the alumina solution. The decline in permeate flux was due to both the cake formation and the pore blocking. The latter effect was higher in the operation of the bentonite solution. In comparing the ratio of each fouling component to the total fouling fur the $1.0\;kg_f/cm^2$ TMP condition, complete blocking was $9.35\%$, standard blocking was about $6.82\%$ and cake filtration was $83.83\%$, respectively. With the increase in cross flow velocity, the permeate flux increased by $6.0\%$ for the alumina solution and by 14.0 for the bentonite solution. With the increase in average pore size fromm $0.24\;{\mu}m\;to\;0.34\;{\mu}m$, the permeate flux increases 1.61 times for the alumina solution and 1.76 times far the bentonite solution.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.230-234
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• 1999

To improve the crossflow untrafiltration flux, we applied periodic oscillations in transmembrane pressure gradient in order to promote fluid turbulence by inducing repeated compression and relaxation of the cake/gel layer. The oscillatory forms used were square-, sine-, triangle-wave, and pumping interruption. The permeate flux profiles were mathematically simulated and compared with the experimental data. The result showed the periodic pumping interruption most effectively improved the overall flux by up to about 32%. Enough pumping off-time, at least on the order of tens of seconds, was needed to allow the solutes in the layer to diffuse back to the bulk phase. It was better to start the oscillations earlier before the layer was fully established. The square-wave oscillation yielded about 11% increase, which was particularly pronounced in the later part of the filtration. Either the amplitude or the period of the oscillations resulted little influence on flux.actate ester, and lactate ester produced in esterification reaction was distilled simultaneously with hydrolysis reaction into lactic acid. When the yields of lactic acid recovered by batch reactive distillations with various alcohols were compared, the yield of lactic acid was increased as the volatility of lactate ester was increased. In this batch reactive distillation, because the mixtures condensed in partial condensor were flown to reboiler through distillation column, the recovery yield of lactic acid was affected by operation temperature of partial condensor. Hydrolysis reaction into lactic acid in distillation column rarelyoccurred because of short retention time of lactate ester and water. Lactate ester was reacted into lactic acid in reboiler.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2015

This paper investigated the membrane fouling potential at the state of passive adsorption which is no permeation with the test modules on COD (Chemical oxygen demand) loading rates, examined the recovery rate and resistance on membrane fouling by three cleaning manners of hydrophobic membrane in a bioreactor. The results showed that high COD loading led to the increase of extra-cellular polymeric substances and filtration resistance. The permeability resistance from 1st day to 63rd day was getting increased, however, the value of permeability resistance after 63th day during the operation period was almost same level at three COD loading rates, it was due that the biomass adhesion on membrane surface at the state of passive adsorption reached to the critical state. Also, the final recovery rates after three cleaning manners were 78%, 72% and 69% at the COD loading concentrations of 250 mg/L, 500 mg/L and 750 mg/L respectively, and then recovery rate by physical cleaning at Run 2 and Run 3 was decreased after 40th day, it proved that biomass cake, which is not easily removed, was formed on the membrane surface because of high COD loading rate and EPS concentration.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2003

This study was focused on the investigation of filtration characteristics of membrane-coupled fermentor system for dissolved organics recovery from liquid organic sludge. On the filterability of MF over the range of $0.1{\sim}5 {\mu}m,$ the magnitude of total membrane resistance ($R_t$) is ranged as follows in the order; $0.1 {\mu}m>0.2{\mu}m>0.5 >1{\mu}m>2{\mu}m>5{\mu}m$. The cake layer resistance ($R_c$) occupied about 68~88% of total resistance with fermented sludge. Permeation flux decline was mainly attributed to the $R_c$, which was formed by a strong deposition from physico-chemical interactions of solids on membrane surface. Higher suspended solids (SS) concentration of suspension caused lower permeation flux. However, there was not a proportion relation beyond a certain SS concentration. The cross-flow velocity on the membrane surface was faster, which resulted in the higher permeation flux and also more efficient with low trans membrane pressure (TMP) in viewpoint of energy efficiency. The appropriate pH of suspension was over the range of 5.0~6.0 for dissolved organics recovery as well as the permeation flux. It is possible f3r bacteria to be separated perfectly with $0.1{\mu}m\; and \;0.2{\mu}m$ membrane pore size. Based on experimental results, most appropriate membrane pore size for the recovery is believed to around $1{\mu}m$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.651-655
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• 2012

This study aimed to investigate the effect of an inorganic conditioner composed of natural inorganic materials on the dewaterbility of sewage sludge and compare the performance with those of conventional organic polymeric conditioners. A dosage of 2.0 mg inorganic conditioner/g sludge TS decreased time to filter test (TTF), specific resistance to filtration (SRF), water content of dewatered sludge cake, turbidity from 146 to 41 sec, from $8.3{\times}10^{14}$ to $2.4{\times}10^{14}$ m/kg, from 82.1 to 77.1%, from 112 to 61.1 NTU, respectively, which was compatible to the conventional cation organic polymer. An inorganic conditioner would be used in sewage sludge treatment as a suitable alternative conditioner. Regression analysis showed a strong relationship among TTF, SRF, and water content.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.323-329
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• 2000

The coupling of an activated sludge reactor with a membrane unit, i.e., Membrane Coupled Activated Sludge (MCAS) system offers several advantages over conventional process. But the major hurdle in the extensive use of this process is the continuous reduction of permeation flux caused by membrane fouling. The aim of this study is to investigate membrane fouling characteristics in the MCAS process. During crossflow ultrafiltration(CFUF) of activated sludge, floc size decreased abruptly at the beginning of operation and thereafter decreased continuously and gradually. The floc size changed from 100~200 to $6{\sim}8{\mu}m$ depending on recirculation velocity. This floc breakage played a key role in rapid increase of $R_c$(cake layer resistance), which led to flux decline. The floc breakage stimulated biomass to release EPS(Extracellular Polymeric Substance) which has been known to be one of the major membrane foul-ants. The amounts of EPS before and after CFUF were 266 and 405(VS mg/MLSS g), respectively. The rise up of EPS concentration was another factor affecting flux decline in MCAS system.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2011

Membrane fouling control in water treatment may be the main obstacle for wider implementation and lower cost. A novel fluorescent spectroscope sensor device for membrane fouling integrity monitoring has been developed and evaluated in this study. PSf membranes for water treatment has been fabricated with three types of organic fluorescent materials, OB, FP, KCB. The fluorescent signal from membrane surface was analyzed throughout the filtration process. It was found that the fluorescent signal due to the membrane fouling decreased and the developed device is reliable for membrane fouling monitoring.