• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.26-27
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• 1995

Most of synthetic polymeric membranes used in ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and microfiltration processes are prepared by phase inversion(or phase separation) technique. In this technique, a homogeneous polymer solution is cast into thin film or hollow fiber shape and then immersed into a nonsolvent coagulant bath. The exchange of solvent and nonsolvent across the interface between casting solution and coagu!ant can make the casting solution phase-separate and form a membrane with a symmetric or asymmetric structure. Because of importance of this technique in membrane field, many investigations have been dedicated to elucidate the mechanism of membrane formation by phase inversion technique.[1-10] These investigation have suggested that the structure formation and permeation properties of phase inversion membrane depend on the variables such as the nature and content of casting solution and coagulant, temperature of casting solution and coagulant, and the diffusional exchange rate of solvent and nonsolvent etc. which can be related to the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the casting system. The variables such as the nature and content of casting solution can also be the important factor affecting the structure formation and permeation property of the phase inversion membrane.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.207-223
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• 2011

Supported Liquid Membranes (SLMs) have been widely studied as feasible alternative to traditional processes for separation and purification of various chemicals both from aqueous and organic matrices. This technique offers various advantages like active transport, possibility to use expensive extractants, high selectivity, low energy requirements and minimization of chemical additives. SLMs are not yet used at large scale in industrial applications, because of the low stability. In the present paper, after a brief overview of the state of the art of SLM technology the facilitated transport mechanisms of SLM based separation is described, also introducing the small and the big carrousel models, which are employed for transport modeling. The main operating parameters (selectivity, flux and permeability) are introduced. The problems related to system stabilization are also discussed, giving particular attention to the influence of membrane materials (solid membrane support and organic liquid membrane (LM) phase). Various approaches proposed in literature to enhance SLM stability are also reviewed. Modification of the solid membrane support, creating an additional layer on membrane surface, which acts as a barrier to LM phase loss, increases system stability, but the membrane permeability, and then the flux, decrease. Stagnant Sandwich Liquid Membrane (SSwLM), an implementation of the SLM system, results in both high flux and stability compared to SLM. Finally, possible large scale applications of SLMs are also reviewed, evidencing that if the LM separation process is opportunely carried out (no production of byproducts), it can be considered as a green process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.61-72
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• 2018

In this study, applicability of the decentralized water supply system were investigated by the high flux evaluation using ceramic membrane with combined pretreatment process. A) filtration process increased the transmembrane pressure of 1.4 kPa and 89.5 kPa on 2 and $5m^3/m^2{\cdot}d$ of filtration flux, respectively, the physical backwashing recovery rate were less than 28.6%. The (B) Coag./Floc. - Sedi. combined process with 4 mg / L of A-PAC showed that the transmembrane pressure increased to within 6 kPa, the physical backwashing recovery rate was over 37.9 % higher than (A) Filtration process. (C) Coag./Floc. combined process showed an increase of transmembrane pressure compared with (B) Coag./Floc. - Sedi. combined process, physical backwashing recovery rate was over 84%. As a result of the membrane fouling analysis using the resistance in series model, the combined pretreatment process showed that the cake resistance (Rc) was more than 92% at membrane filtration flux of $2m^3/m^2{\cdot}d$. In the (C) Coag./Floc. combined process, cake resistance(Rc) was over 86% on high flux conditions. The coagulation floc contained in influent was removed by the membrane, and the cake layer formed with the removed floc was identified as reversible fouling resistance which could be recovered by physical backwashing. The decentralized water supply system, which has the limitation of site area and installation space, is considered to could be operation of high flux of ceramic membrane by applying (C) Coag./Floc. combined process without sedimentation process.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2011

For advanced drinking water treatment of high turbidity water, we used the hybrid process that was composed of photocatalyst packing in space of between outside of multi-channel ceramic microfiltration membrane and membrane module inside. Photocatalyst was polypropylene (PP) beads coated $TiO_2$ powder by CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process. Instead of natural organic matters (NOM) and fine inorganic particles in natural water source, standard NOM solution was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. Water-back-flushing of 10 sec was performed per every period of 10 min to minimize membrane fouling. Resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) increased and J decreased as concentration of humic acid changed from 2 mg/L to 10 mg/L, and finally the highest total permeate volume ($V_T$) could be obtained at 2 mg/L. Then, treatment efficiency of turbidity and $UV_{254}$ absorbance were above 96.4% and 78.9%, respectively. As results of treatment portions by membrane filtration, photocatalyst adsorption, and photo-oxidation in (MF), (MF + $TiO_2$), (MF + $TiO_2$ + UV) processes, turbidity was treated little by photocatalyst adsorption, and photo-oxidation. However, treatment portions of $UV_{254}$ absorbance by adsorption (MF + $TiO_2$) and photo-oxidation (MF + $TiO_2$ + UV) at humic acid of 4 mg/L and 6 mg/L were above 9.0, 9.5 and 8.1, 10.9%, respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2012

To treat nitrate and non-biodegradable organics effectively in sewage, industrial wastewater and livestock wastewater, the activated sludge process integrated by a membrane separation and a porous electrode- electrolysis was proposed and its efficiency was investigated. The proposed system was consisted of 3 processes; activated sludge, membrane filtration and electrolysis. In the study, the membrane filtration played a role in reducing the load of the electrolysis to operate the proposed process stably. The electrolysis consisted of a porous electrode to increase the efficiency due to the extension of the specific surface area. Additionally, redox reaction in the electrolysis was induced by decomposing influent water as current was applied. As a result, hydrogen free radicals and oxygen radicals as intermediates were produced and they acted as oxidants to play a role in decomposing non-degradable organics. It was environmentally-friendly process because intermediates produced by porous electrode were used to treat waste matters without supplying external reagent. Experimental data showed that the proposed process was more excellent than activated sludge process. SS removal efficiencies of the proposed process, membrane filtration and activated sludge process were about 100%, about 100% and about 90%, respectively. COD removal efficiencies of the proposed system, membrane filtration and activated sludge process were about 92%, about 84% and about 78%, respectively. T-N removal efficiencies of the proposed system, membrane filtration and activated sludge process were about 88%, about 67%, and about 58%, respectively. The SS data showed that SS was efficiently removed in the single of the membrane filtration. The COD/T-N data showed that COD/T-N of membrane hybrid process was treated by removing a little soluble organics and SS, and that COD/T-N of electrolysis hybrid process was treated by oxidize organics with high removal rate.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.458-462
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• 2016

Saline water electrolysis, known as chlor-alkali (CA) membrane process, is an electrochemical process to generate valued chemicals such as chlorine, hydrogen and sodium hydroxide with high purities higher than 99%, using an electrolytic cell composed of cation exchange membrane, anode and cathode. It is necessary to reduce energy consumption per a unit chemical production. This issue can be solved by decreasing intrinsic resistance of the membrane and the electrodes and/or by reducing their interfacial resistance. In this study, the electron radiation grafting of a $Na^+$ ion-selective polymer was conducted onto a hydrocarbon sulfonated ionomer membrane with high chemical resistance. This approach was effective in improving electrochemical efficiency via the synergistic effect of relatively fast $Na^+$ ion conduction and reduced interfacial resistance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.539-549
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• 2017

In water treatment process using microfiltration membranes, manganese is a substance that causes inorganic membrane fouling. As a result of analysis on the operation data taken from I WTP(Water Treatment Plant), it was confirmed that the increase of TMP was very severe during the period of manganese inflow. The membrane fouling fastened the increase of TMP and shortened the service time of filtration or the cleaning cycle. The TMP of the membrane increased to the maximum of $2.13kgf/cm^2$, but it was recovered to the initial level ($0.17kgf/cm^2$) by the 1st acid cleaning step. It was obvious that the main membrane fouling contaminants are due to inorganic substances. As a result of the analysis on the chemical waste, the concentrations of aluminum(146-164 mg/L) and manganese(110-126 mg/L) were very high. It is considered that aluminum was due to the residual unreacted during coagulation step as a pretreatment process. And manganese is thought to be due to the adsorption on the membrane surface as an adsorbate in feed water component during filtration step. For the efficient maintenance of the membrane filtration facilities, optimization of chemical concentration and CIP conditions is very important when finding the abnormal level of influent including foulants such as manganese.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2011

Membrane fouling is an unavoidable phenomenon and major obstacle in the economic and efficient operation under sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO). When fouling occurs on the membrane surface, the permeate quantity and quality decrease, the trans-membrane pressure (TMP) and operation costs increase, and the membrane may be damaged. Therefore, chemical cleaning process is important to prevent permeate flow from decreasing in RO membrane filtration process. This study focused on proper chemical cleaning condition for Shuaibah RO plant in Saudi Arabia. Several chemical agents were used for chemical cleaning at different contact time and concentrations of chemicals. Also autopsy analysis was performed using LOI, FT-IR, FEEM, SEM and EDX for assessment of fouling. Specially, FEEM analysis method was thought as analyzing and evaluating tool available for selection of the first applied chemical cleaning dose to predict potential organic fouling. Also, cleaning time should be considered by the condition of RO membrane process since the cleaning time depends on the membrane fouling rate. If the fouling exceeds chemical cleaning guideline, to perfectly remove the fouling, certainly, the chemical cleaning is increased with membrane fouling rate influenced by raw water properties, pre-treatment condition and the point of the chemical cleaning operation time. Also choice of cleaning chemicals applied firstly is important.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2012

The effect of water back-flushing period (FT) was investigated in hybrid process of carbon fiber microfiltration membrane and photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment in this study, and compared with the previous study using alumina ultrafiltration membrane. The FT was changed in the range of 2~10 min with fixed 10 sec of BT. Then, the FT effects on resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$), permeate flux (J) and total permeate volume ($V_T$) were observed during total filtration time of 180 min. As decreasing FT, $R_f$ decreased and J increased, which was same with the previous result using alumina ultrafiltration membrane. The treatment efficiency of turbidity was high beyond 99.2%, and the effect of FT was not shown on treatment efficiency of turbidity, which was different with the previous result. The treatment efficiency of organic matters was the lowest value of 65.6% at NBF, and it increased as decreasing FT, which was different with the previous result, too. The reason was that the membrane fouling phenomena could show a different mechanism depending on ceramic membrane materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2010

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have been widely used for desalination as well as water and wastewater treatment facilities. Cleaning process is important to maintain stable operation as well as prevention of membrane fouling. Purpose of this research is to analyze electrostatistic and chemical characteristics after cleaning of RO membrane against $SiO_2$ scale. Four RO membranes of polyamide are used and examined about effect of chemical cleaning. EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) and SDS (sodium dodecil sulfate) and NaOH are applied for cleaning process after operation in synthetic water. Then, cleaning was performed with chemicals such concentration as 6hr, 12hr and 24hr, respectively. As a result, transmittances of FT-IR of four membranes are compared at each cleaning concentration. Ta/Tv shows difference of chemical composition between new membrane and cleaning membrane after cleaning. Type B of RO membrane is turned out to be most vulnerable to cleaning among four membranes. In terms of zeta potential, new membrane has -16 mV to +6 mV on pH while scaled membrane has -18 mV to 2 mV. However, it changed -23mV to 0.9 mV after cleaning. In comparison with existing salt rejection of RO membranes after cleaning, the rejection of the membranes goes down 0.7% maximum. Though cleaning changes the characteristics of membrane surface, it does not greatly affect salt rejection. pH is a critical factor to flux change in PA (polyamide) membrane.