Committee Report: Recent advances and research needs in membrane fouling

摘要

Although the use of membrane technologies in drinking water treatment is on the rise, membrane fouling remains a limiting factor to the efficacy of these technologies. New membrane materials are being developed to increase resistance to hydrolysis and biological attack, prevent degradation inthe presence of oxidants, and decrease fouling rates. Powerful analytical tools, such as ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry, are helping to improve the fundamental understanding of the membrane separation process, the composition of foulants, the foulant effect on membrane permeability, and contaminant rejection. The objectives of this report are to (1) assess recent advances in membrane materials that may lessen the fouling tendency and (2) examine techniques for monitoring and controlling fouling. Recent advances in foulant characterization, pretfeatment alternatives, and monitoring are also discussed.