• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.167-172
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• 2020

The effectiveness of in situ sediment capping as a technique for heavy metal risk mitigation in Hyeongsan River estuary, South Korea was studied. Sites in the estuary were found previously to show moderate to high levels of contamination of mercury, methylmercury and other heavy metals. A 400 m x 50 m section of the river was selected for a thin layer capping demonstration, where the total area was divided into 4 sections capped with different combinations of capping materials (zeolite, AC/zeolite, AC/sand, zeolite/sand). Pore water concentrations in the different sites were studied using diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) probes. All capping amendments showed reduction in the pore water concentration of the different heavy metals with top 5 cm showing %reduction greater than 90% for some heavy metals. The relative maxima for the different metals were found to be translated to lower depths with addition of the caps. For two-layered cap with AC, order of placement should be considered since AC can easily be displaced due to its relatively low density. Investigation of methylmercury (MeHg) in the site showed that MeHg and %MeHg in pore water corresponds well with maxima for sulfide, Fe and Mn suggesting mercury methylation as probably coupled with sulfate, Fe and Mn reduction in sediments. Our results showed that thin-layer capping of active sorbents AC and zeolite, in combination with passive sand caps, are potential remediation strategy for sediments contaminated with heavy metals.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.87-95
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• 2020

The worldwide shortage of water resources is a major environmental issue. Using pure water for drinking and domestic purposes is a bigger issue than other environmental issues. Industrialization and Urbanization have even polluted rainwater. In China, when it rains, rainwater is stored on the roof or other sources of storage for daily use resulting in pollution. Several studies have been conducted to treat rainwater. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of constructed wetlands by using ACF as a medium. So, this study aims to treat rainwater in Wuhan city through a Composite Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands. First, rainwater was stored in the tank while it flows out of the roof, further it is processed in constructed wetlands. The constructed wetlands is consisted with plants Calamus and Chives, adding ACF (prepared from luffa) has achieved great results in this study. Results show that the pollutants have been removed to a considerable level, there were significant differences in removal rates under different HRT at 6h, 9h and 12h respectively. Therefore, Composite Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands is recommended for total nitrogen and Ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.111-121
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• 2020

The fouling of Nanofiltration membrane (NF) was examined using wastewater containing reactive black dye RB5 of 1500 Pt/Co color concentrations with 16890 mg/l TDS collected from El-alamia Company for Dying and Weaving in Egypt. The NF-unit was operated at constant pressure of 10 bars, temperature of 25℃, and flowrate of 420 L/min. SEM, EDX, and FTIR were used for fouling characterization. Using the ROIFA-4 program, the total inorganic fouling load was 1.07 mM/kg present as 49.3% Carbonates, 10.1% Sulfates, 37.2% Silicates, 37.2% Phosphates, and 0.93% Iron oxides. The permeate flux, recovery, salt rejection and mass transfer coefficients of the dye molecules were reduced significantly after fouling. The results clearly demonstrate that the fouling had detrimental effect on membrane performance in dye removal, as indicated by a sharp decrease in permeate flux and dye recovery 68%. The dye mass transfer coefficient was dropped dramatically by 34%, and the salt permeability increased by 14%. In this study, all the properties of the membrane used and the fouling that caused its poor condition are identified. Another study was conducted to regeneration fouled membrane again by chemical methods in another article (Abdel-Fatah et al. 2017).

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.131-139
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• 2020

The current study focused on the preparation of low-cost PVC-based adsorbing membrane. Metakaolin, as available adsorbent, was embedded into the PVC matrix via solution blending method. The as-prepared PVC/metakaolin mixed matrix membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), pure water permeability and contact angle measurements. The results confirmed the improvement of PWP and hydrophilicity due to the presence of metakaolin in the PVC matrix. Additionally the structure of PVC membrane was changed due to the incorporation of metakaolin in the polymer matrix. The static adsorption capacity of all samples was determined through dye removal. The effect of metakaolin dosage (0-7%) and pH (4, 8, 12) on dye adsorption capacity was investigated. The results depicted that the highest adsorption capacity was achieved at pH of 4 for all samples. Additionally, adsorption data were fitted on Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models to determine the appropriate governing isotherm model. Finally, the dynamic adsorption capacity of the optimum PVC/metakaolin membrane was studied using dead-end filtration cell. The dye removal efficiency was determined for pure PVC and PVC/metakaolin membrane. The results demonstrated that PVC/metakaolin mixed matrix membrane had a high adsorption capacity for dye removal from aqueous solution.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.463-476
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• 2016

In this study, application of polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactors for $CO_2$ removal from water in liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) mode was simulated. For this purpose, a steady state 2D mathematical model was developed. In this model axial and radial diffusion was considered to $CO_2$ permeation through the hollow fibers. $CO_2$ laden water is fed at a constant flow rate into the lumen side, permeated through the pores of membrane and at the end of this process, $CO_2$ solution in the lumen side was extracted by means of aqueous diethanolamine (DEA) and chemical reaction. The simulation results were validated with the experimental data and it was found a good agreement between them, which confirmed the reliability of the proposed model. Both simulation and experimental results confirmed the reduction in the percentage of $CO_2$ removal by increment of feed flow rate.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.451-462
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• 2016

The molecular weight of proteins and protein hydrolysis products (PHP) in the fractionated post-production marinating brines left after herring marination process was determined by the HPLC. The proteins and PHP retention was evaluated in the three-stage purification process with the usage of polypropylene bag ($25{\mu}m$) and ceramic membranes with the cut-off of 150 and 1 kDa. It was found that the process of marination contributes to high participation of compounds in the post-production marinating brines. Those are characterised by low molecular weight, formed as a result of protein hydrolysis. Each stage of the scavenging process was reducing the content of proteins and PHP. The lowest retention was observed in the stage at which a PP bag was used, while the highest in the UF process, with the usage of 150 kDa membrane. The total retention of proteins and PHP differed according to the type of post-production marinating brines and reached the level of 16-22%.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.403-416
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• 2016

The possibility of using carica papaya leaf powder for removal of copper from wastewater as a low cost adsorbent was explored. Different parameters that affect the adsorption process like initial concentration of metal ion, time of contact, adsorbent quantity and pH were evaluated and the outcome of the study was tested using adsorption isotherm models. A maximum of 90%-94.1% copper removal was possible from wastewater having low concentration of the metal using papaya leaf powder under optimum conditions by conducting experimental studies. The biosorption of copper ion was influenced by pH and outcome of experimental results indicate the optimum pH as 7.0 for maximum copper removal. Copper distribution between the solid and liquid phases in batch studies was described by isotherms like Langmuir adsorption and Freundlich models. The adsorption process was better represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper was measured to be 24.51 mg/g through the Langmuir model. Pseudo-second order rate equation was better suited for the adsorption process. A dynamic mode study was also conducted to analyse the ability of papaya leaf powder to remove copper (II) ions from aqueous solution and the breakthrough curve was described by an S profile. Present study revealed that papaya leaf powder can be used for the removal of copper from the wastewater and low cost water treatment techniques can be developed using this adsorbent.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.377-401
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• 2016

To study the effect of titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) nanoparticles on membrane performance and structure and to explore possible improvement of using mixed solvents in the casting solution, composite polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes were prepared via immersion precipitation method using a mixture of two solvents triethyl phosphate (TEP) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and addition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. Properties of the neat and composite membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle and membrane porosity measurements. The neat and composite membranes were further investigated in terms of BSA rejection and flux decline in cross flow filtration experiments. Following hydrophilicity improvement of the PVDF membrane by addition of 0.25 wt.% $TiO_2$, (from $70.53^{\circ}$ to $60.5^{\circ}$) degree of flux decline due to irreversible fouling resistance of the composite membrane reduced significantly and the flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 96.85% was obtained. The results showed that using mixed solvents (DMAc/TEP) with lower content of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles (0.25 wt.%) affected the sedimentation rate of nanoparticles and consequently the distribution of nanoparticles in the casting solution and membrane formation which influenced the properties of the ultimate composite membranes.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.155-173
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• 2016

The present work has been focused on the development of polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membrane via blending by sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) in order to permeability enhancement for ultrafiltration of cheese whey. In this regards, sulfonation of polyethersulfone was carried out and the degree of sulfonation was estimated. The effect of blend ratio on morphology, porosity, permeation and fouling of PSf / SPES membranes was investigated. Filtration experiments of whey were conducted for separation of macromolecules and proteins from the lactose enrichment phase. The morphology and performance of membranes were evaluated using different techniques such SEM, AFM, and contact angle measurements. The contact angle measurement showed that the hydrophilicity of membrane was increased by adding SPES. According to AFM images, PSf / SPES membranes exhibited lower roughness compared to neat PSf membrane. The water and whey flux of these membranes were higher than neat membrane. However, flux was decreased when the PSf / SPES blend ratio was 0/100. It can be attributed to pore size and morphology changes. Further, fouling parameters of PSf membrane were improved after blending. The blend membranes show a great potential to be used practically in proteins separation from cheese whey.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.39-49
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• 2011

We investigated about the utilization improvement of the PDMS and fluoropolymers by mutual application in environmental analysis. We were conducted the direct fluorination with mild condition on the PDMS films and analyzed its surfaces before and after fluorination. The results of FTIR and SEM analysis on the PDMS films showed that the film surfaces were fluorinated without irreversible deformation by the fluorination. During the fluorination, the measured contact angles of water and several alcohols on the PDMS films decreased with time and that of most alcohols decreased to 0 after 30 minutes. The surface energy of fluorinated PDMS films has increased by 2 times. Also, we investigated the influence factors on the change of permeation rate of water through PDMS tubes with time. It was observed that the change of permeation rate of water through PDMS tube was affected by temperature, water phase and spatial distribution of water. From these results, we could verify the principal causes of the decrease of permeation rate of water through PDMS tube with time and proposed a new experimental setup for reducing the variation of permeation rate of water less than 2%.