• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.139-152
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• 2024

Mixed matrix membranes have gained significant recognition in the wastewater treatment industry for their effectiveness in removing dyes, proteins, and heavy metals from water sources. Researchers have developed an innovative technique to enhance properties of these membranes by incorporating amine-functionalized carbon nanotubes into the polymer matrix. This approach introduces amine functional groups onto the membrane surface, which are then modified with trimesoyl chloride and cyanuric chloride. The modified membranes are characterized by XPS to confirm successful bonding of amines with the trimesoyl chloride and cyanuric chloride. The surface charge of the modified membrane also plays a role in the modification process; the membrane modified with trimesoyl chloride has a negative surface charge, while the one modified with cyanuric chloride has a more positive charge. At the same acidic pH, the positive or negative charge of the mixed matrix membranes assists in enhancing the rejection of heavy metals. This results in improved antifouling properties for both modified membranes. The heavy metal rejection for all modified membranes is higher than for unmodified membranes, due to both adsorption and complexation abilities of the functional groups on the membrane surface with heavy metal ions. As the membrane surface functionalities increase through modification, the separation due to complexation also increases. The bulk morphology of the membrane remains unchanged, while roughness slightly increases due to the surface treatment.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.99-106
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• 2024

This study developed an efficient management plan to improve the water quality by analyzing fluctuations in the ratio and amount of various organic substances in streams considering watershed characteristics and rainfall patterns. Monitoring was conducted on three streams and one lake over seven sessions during wet and dry seasons. Water quality indicators including total organic (TOC), refractory dissolved organic (RDOC), and particulate organic (POC) carbons were analyzed using high-temperature combustion oxidation. The three streams (Cheongmi, Yanghwa, and Bokha) displayed high TOC concentrations during the rainy season because the accumulated organic substances from the dry season were washed away by rainfall. By contrast, Paldang Lake exhibited a substantial decrease in TOC concentration due to dilution, which was influenced by watershed and rainfall characteristics. Across all streams and lakes, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) accounted for the highest proportion, at 77.5% of TOC, with RDOC making up 91% of DOC and 71% of TOC. Although POC contributed a small annual proportion to annual TOC, the concentration rapidly increased during late spring and early summer, with increases of 40.403%, 25.99%, and 27.388% in Cheongmi, Yanghwa, and Bokha, respectively. Continuous monitoring of RDOC is essential to identify seasonal fluctuations and changes due to rainfall events. Furthermore, intensive POC management during the rainy season, particularly in May and June, is potentially economical and efficient for water quality management.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.117-130
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• 2024

The possibility of using lime/mineral solvent solutions has been investigated to effectively remove T-P from wastewater. The lime solvent solution showed an initial T-P removal efficiency of about 90% compared to the less efficient mineral solvent solution removal. High pH and dissolved Ca2+ can form hydroxyapatite minerals (Ca5(PO4)3(OH) or Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 and can also remove SS and COD from wastewater. Feldspar dissolution solution can be reused twice because the Ca limited sample content provided, but further research is needed to discover other influencing parameters that control the T-P removal efficiency in real wastewater. Because it plays an important role of alkalinity in T-P removal, the success rate is limited. In practical applications, it is obtained according to the pH value wastewater in the environment. The results obtained in this study can highlight new insights on the use of limestone/dissolved mineral solutions to control T-P in wastewater, instead of directly using commercial chemical agents that can produce large amounts of unreacted chemical sludge.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.83-92
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• 2010

To improve the antifouling characteristics of polypropylene hollow fiber microporous membranes in a submerged membrane-bioreactor for wastewater treatment, the surface-modification was conducted by Ar plasma treatment. Surface hydrophilicity was assessed by water contact angle measurements. The advancing and receding water contact angles reduced after the surface modification, and hysteresis between the advancing and receding water contact angles was enlarged after Ar plasma treatment due to the increased surface roughness after surface plasma treatment. After continuous operation in a submerged membrane-bioreactor for about 55 h, the flux recovery after water cleaning and the flux ratio after fouling were improved by 20.0 and 143.0%, while the reduction of flux was reduced by 28.6% for the surface modified membrane after 1 min Ar plasma treatment, compared to those of the unmodified membrane. Morphological observations showed that the mean membrane pore size after Ar plasma treatment reduced as a result of the deposition of the etched species; after it was used in the submerged membrane-bioreactor, the further decline of the mean membrane pore size was caused by the deposition of foulants. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy confirmed that proteins and polysaccharide-like substances were the main foulants in the precipitate.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.175-185
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• 2011

Ultrafiltration is an emerging technology for drinking water treatment because it produces better water quality as compared with conventional treatment systems. More recently, the combination of UF technology with other processes in order to improve its performance has been observed. These associations aim to maximize the contaminants removal and reduce membrane fouling. The operational performance of contaminants removal and water production of two UF pilot plants was compared. The first plant (Guarapiranga) was fed with raw water and the second plant (ABV) with pre-treated water by the coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation processes at Alto da Boa Vista WTP (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Both units operated continuously for approximately 2,500 hours, from September/2009 to January/2010. The results showed that the ABV UF pilot plant was able to operate at higher specific fluxes (6.2 $L.d^{-1}.m^{-2}.kPa^{-1}$ @ $25^{\circ}C$) than Guarapiranga (3.1 $L.d^{-1}.m^{-2}.kPa^{-1}$ @ $25^{\circ}C$). However, the number of chemical cleanings conducted in both pilot units during the considered operation period was the same (4 chemical cleanings for each plant), which shows that the pre-treatment reduced the membrane fouling. The water quality at ABV for all the variables analyzed was better, but the feed water quality was also better due to pretreatment. The rejection values for the different contaminants were higher at Guarapiranga mainly because of a pollution load reduction after pre-treatment at ABV. Even with the better performance of the ABV UF pilot plant, it is necessary to take into consideration the complexity of the complete treatment system, and also the costs involved in the construction and operation of a full-scale treatment unit.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.106-112
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• 2016

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of resistant exercise on the gait performance of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient. Design: A case study. Methods: A 30-year-old male adult who had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE) in April 2013, right middle cerebral artery infarction, and with left hemiplegia agreed to participate in this case study. Patient was unable to walk due to being affected with adynamia. Due to developing necrotizing vasculitis on the left lower extremity, patient underwent a myotomy on the left thigh. The patient was trained with a progressive resistant exercise program for 8 weeks. An intensity of 15 RM was used for the resistant exercises and the resistance level was increased progressively in order to improve the muscle power of the patient. Methods used to increase resistance included changing positions, providing mechanical resistance instead of manual resistance, transitioning from open kinetic chain to closed kinetic chain exercises, and changing the colors of the theraband to those with increase level of resistance. Outcome measures included the 5-repetition sit-to- stand test (5RSST), Timed Up & Go (TUG), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT). In addition, the GAITRite was used to assess the spatio-temporal gait variables, including gait speed, cadence, stride length of the left side, and double limb support pre and post-intervention. Results: The patient was able to perform sit-to- stand after two weeks of performing the resistant exercises. The patient was able to walk after 4 weeks, and the patient's overall gait performance had improved after 8 weeks. All of the variables had improved after each week. Conclusions: The results of this case study may be used to enhance future efforts to objectively evaluate resistant exercises during gait performance in persons affected by SLE.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.317-325
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• 2018

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was modified by silica sol in the coagulation bath during non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process. The effects of silica sol concentrations on the morphology, surface property, mechanical strength and separation property of PVC UF membranes were systematically investigated. PVC membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle goniometry and tensile strength measurement. The results showed that silica had been successfully assembled on the surface of PVC UF membrane. With the increase of silica sol concentration in the coagulation bath, the morphologies of PVC UF membranes changed from cavity structure to finger-like pore structure and asymmetric cross-section structure. The hydrophilicity and permeability of PVC UF membranes were further evaluated. When silica sol concentration was 20 wt.%, the modified PVC membrane exhibited the highest hydrophilicity with a static contact angle of $36.5^{\circ}$ and permeability of $91.8(L{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}h^{-1})$. The structure of self-assemble silica had significant impact on the surface property, morphology, mechanical strength and resultant separation performance of the PVC membranes.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.373-383
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• 2018

Fouling by solids and microorganisms is the major obstacle limiting the efficient use of membrane wastewater treatment. In our previous study, two stages microalgae/membrane filtration system was proposed to treat anaerobic digested palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME). This two stages microalgae/membrane filtration system had showed great potential for the treatment of AnPOME with high removal of COD, $NH_3-N$, $PO_4{^{3-}}$, TSS, turbidity, and colour. However, fouling behavior of the membrane in this two stages microalgae/membrane filtration system was still unknown. In this study, empirical models that describe permeate flux decline for dead-end filtration (pore blocking - complete, intermediate, and standard; and cake layer formation) presented by Hermia were used to fit the experimental results in identifying the fouling mechanism under different experimental conditions. Both centrifuged and non-centrifuged samples were taken from the medium with 3 days RT intervals, from day 0 to day 12 to study their influence on fouling mechanisms described by Hermia for ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) filtration mode. Besides, a more detailed study on the use of resistance-in-series model for deadend filtration was done to investigate the fouling mechanisms involved in membrane filtration of AnPOME collected after microalgae treatment. The results showed that fouling of UF and NF membrane was mainly caused by cake layer formation and it was also supported by the analysis for resistance-in-series model. Whereas, fouling of RO membrane was dominated by concentration polarization.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.327-334
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• 2018

The nano/micro composites with highly porous surface area have attracted of great interest, particularly the synthesis of porous and thin film sheets of high performance. In this paper, an easy method of cost-effective synthesis of thin film ceramic fiber membranes based on Hydroxyapatite, and activated carbon by turned into studied to be applied within the service-facilitated the transport of radioactive waste such as $^{90}Sr$, $^{137}Cs$ and $^{60}Co$) as activated product of radioisotopes from ETRR-2 research reactor and dissolved in 3M $HNO_3$, across a thin flat-sheet supported liquid membrane (TFSSLM). Radionuclides are transported from alkaline pH values. The presence of sodium salts in the aqueous media improves in $HNO_3$, the lowering of permeability because the initial $HNO_3$ concentration is improved. The study some parameters on the thin sheet ceramic supported liquid membrane. EDTA as stripping phase concentration, time of extraction and temperature were studied. The study of maximum permeability of radioisotopes for all parameters. The pertraction of a radioactive waste solution from nitrate medium were examined at the optimized conditions. Under the optimum experimental 98.6-99.9% of $^{90}Sr$, 79.65-80.3% of $^{137}Cs$ and $^{60}Co$ 45.5-55.5% in 90-110 min with were extracted in 10-30 min, respectively. The process of diffusion in liquid membranes is governed by the chemical diffusion process.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.473-480
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• 2018

The effect of three iron-based adsorbents pre-depositing on ultrafiltration membrane for humic acid (HA) removal and membrane fouling was investigated. The result showed that pre-depositing adsorbents on membrane could not only reduce membrane fouling but also enhance HA removal. The flux was related to the adsorbent dosage and the optimal dosage for pre-deposition was $35.0g/m^2$. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal of HA was 38.3%, 67.3% and 41.1% respectively when pre-deposited $35.0g/m^2$ $FeO_xH_y$, $MnFe_2O_4$ and $Fe_3O_4$ on membrane. Different adsorption effect of adsorbents on HA contributed to increasing of the flux at different level. Zeta potential of three adsorbents all decreased after adsorbed HA. The adsorption capacity of the three adsorbents was $FeO_xH_y$ > $MnFe_2O_4$ > $Fe_3O_4$. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurement showed the thickness of pre-deposition layers formed by different adsorbents was different. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) detection showed the morphology and compactness of pre-deposition layers formed by different adsorbents was different.