Effect of cake layer structure on colloidal fouling in reverse osmosis membranes

A series of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration experiments was performed systematically in order to investigate the effects of various hydrodynamic and physicochemical operational parameters on a cake layer formation in colloidal and particulate suspensions. Bench-scale fouling experiments with a thin-film composite RO membrane were performed at various combinations of trans-membrane pressure (TMP), cross-flow velocity (CFV), particle size, pH, and ionic strength. In this study, silica particles with two different mean diameters of 0.1 and 3.0 μm were used as model colloids. Membrane filtration experiments with colloidal suspensions under various hydrodynamic operating conditions resulted that more significant permeate flux decline was observed as TMP increased and CFV decreased, which was attributed to the higher accumulative mass of particles on the membrane surface. Results of fouling experiments under various physicochemical operating conditions demonstrated that the rate of flux decline decreased significantly with an increase of the ionic strength as well as particle size, while the flux decline rate did not vary when solution pH changed. The experimentally measured cake layer thickness increased with a decrease in particle size and solution ionic strength. Furthermore, the model estimation of cake layer thickness by using a cake filtration theory based on the hydraulic resistance of membrane and cake layer was performed under various ionic strength conditions. The primary model parameters including accumulated mass and specific cake resistance were calculated from the cake layer resistance. This result indicated that the formation of cake layer could be closely related with solution water chemistry. The model estimated cake layer thickness values were in good agreement with the experimentally measured values.     

Rupture probability of coarse aggregate on fracture surface of concrete

In this work, the fracture surface of concrete was analyzed by the digital image analysis (DIA) technique, and the rupture probability of the coarse aggregate (RPCA) was used to represent the failure mode of the aggregate at the fracture surface. The relationships between the RPCA, the water-binder ratio (W/B), and the size and type of coarse aggregate were investigated. Preliminary results showed that: (1) RPCA increases with decreasing W/B of concrete. (2) RPCA of concrete with coarse aggregates having a maximum size of 16 mm is higher than that with other sizes of coarse aggregate. The influence of the size of coarse aggregate on the RPCA is more significant in high strength concrete than in normal strength concrete. (3) With reduction of W/B, the interfacial bond of concrete with crushed gravel improves more significantly than with round gravel according to their RPCA. (4) RPCA depends not only on the intrinsic strength, size, and shape but also on the reactivity of the coarse aggregate.     

膜生物反应器膜面滤饼层数学模型建立及表征方法研究进展

论述了膜生物反应器滤饼层形成机理,阐述了滤饼层数学模型的研究概况。最后,指出了滤饼层微观研究对于探究膜污染问题的重要性。     

Evaluation of coagulation and PAC adsorption pretreatments on membrane filtration for a surface water in Korea: A pilot study

Application of membrane filtration has been significantly expanded throughout the world in two decades. A project was launched to facilitate the application of membrane filtration in drinking water plants in Korea in 2004. Five pilot plants each with a capacity of 500 m³/d were installed in a Gueui Drinking Water Plant. The Han River water was a main raw water source for the plants. Key parameters of the raw water were examined. The raw water characteristics are tremendously varied with seasons and rain fall, especially in terms of turbidity and algae numbers. The operation of pretreatment was of substantial importance due to the variation of the raw water. Coagulation and powdered activated carbon adsorption were performed as pretreatment options of microfiltration. The coagulant doses were optimized with increasing turbidity compared to the conventionally used operational manual. PAC adsorption was applied to overcome fouling by high algae numbers. The addition of PAC relieved the aggravation of fouling. However, the PAC addition could not stop the undergoing fouling. A set of laboratory experiments showed that the removal of floc aggregates after coagulation and PAC was critical to maintain high water flux in the membrane system.     

Influence of the roughness of aggregate surface on the interface bond strength

An experimental investigation on the bond strength of the interface between mortar and aggregate is reported. Composite compact specimens were used for applying Mode I and Mode II loading effects. The influence of the type of mortar and type of aggregate and its roughness on the bond strength of the interface has been studied. It has been observed that the bond strength of the interface in tension is significantly low, though the mortars exhibited higher strength. The highest tensile bond strength values have been observed with rough concrete surface with M-13 mortar. The bond strength of the interface in Mode I load depends on the type of aggregate surface and its roughness, and the type of mortar. The bond strength of the interface between mortar M-13 cast against rough concrete in direct tension seems to be about one third of the strength of the mortar. However, it is about 1/20th to 1/10th with the mortar M-12 in sandwiched composite specimens. The bond strength of the interface in shear (Mode II) significantly increases as the roughness and the phase angle of the aggregate surface increase. The strength of mortar on the interface bond strength has been very significant. The sandwiched composite specimens show relatively low bond strength in Mode I loading. The behavior of the interface in both Mode I and Mode II loading effects has been brittle, indicating catastrophic failure.     

Deposition of submicron particles in deep bed filtration under unfavorable surface conditions

Deterioration in the filter removal efficiency of submicron particles (λ/λ_o) under unfavorable surface conditions is affected by the number of deposited particles per filter grain. In the case of above micron particles, the deterioration of filter removal efficiency has been mainly due to the blocking effect of deposited particles and not by the number of deposited particles. Deposition of large number of submicron particles changed the surface characteristics of collectors (filter grain associated with deposited particles) and enhanced unfavorable surface conditions. Filtration experiments were conducted with monodispersed suspensions of known sizes of submicron latex particles at different ionic strengths, using glass beads as filter grains. The filtration performance was predicted by using a mathematical model, assuming a linear relationship between λ/ λ_o and Σ (i.e. λ/λ_o=1 − kΣ). For both particles, k was found to decrease andλ _o was found to increase with the increase in the ionic strength. A comparison was made of the importance of blocking effect for the filtration of submicron particles.     

Influence of compatibility between sol and intermediate layer on the performance of yttria-stabilized zirconia nanofiltration membrane

This paper reports the synergistic effect of the sol and intermediate layer on the performance of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanofiltration (NF) membranes. We have focused on the characterization of the microstructure, pure water permeance, and molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the NF membranes derived from zirconia sols of different precursor concentrations on two types of supported ZrO₂ ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. We found that the performance of YSZ membranes strongly depends on the sol concentration and the pore size of the intermediate layer. In addition, YSZ gel membrane formation was found to follow the filtration process. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the compatibility between the sol and intermediate layer to fabricate high-performance NF membranes. A crack-free thin YSZ layer with an MWCO of 816 Da (pore size: 1.4 nm) and a water permeance of 25 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1 was fabricated using a precursor concentration of 0.03 mol/L, on ZrO₂ UF membrane with a pore size of 5.5 nm. The YSZ NF membrane exhibited a relatively high retention rate towards MgCl₂ (71%), whereas a lower retention rate was observed for NaCl (35%).     

A model on attrition of quartzite particles as a bed material in fluidized beds

In this paper, a model on attrition of quartzite particles as an inert bed material in fluidized beds has been established on the particle-particle collision. For the convenience of describing the attrition of quartzite particles in fluidized beds, we chose the attrition rate constant (k_ARC) as one main characteristic parameter to develop the model.In order to verify the validity of the developed model, an attrition experiment of quartzite particles has been carried out in a lab-scale circulating fluidized bed. The predicted results from the population model were close to the experimental data as far as the engineering use is concerned. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by using the developed model to examine effects of initial particle diameter, attrition time, and fluidization number on k_ARC.     

Influence of particle concentration on initial collection efficiency and surface coverage in porous media filtration

Four sizes (0.095, 0.53, 1.0 and 2.01 μm) of polystyrene latex particles were used to prepare monodispersed suspensions at three different ionic strengths (10³,10^-2.5 and 10^-2 M KCl). Filtration experiments were conducted using those suspensions in a filter column with glass beads as porous medium. The filter bed depth and the filtration velocity were kept at 5 cm and 1 m/h, respectively. When suspensions with equal mass concentrations (0.2 mg/L) or equal surface area concentrations (0.12 cm²/mL) were filtered through the system, the largest particles exhibited higher initial single collector efficiency, ⪯. The difference between the ? of largest particles and the smaller particles was prominent for suspensions with equal surface area concentrations at higher ionic strengths. The collision efficiency,α of those particles exhibits higher values at higher ionic strengths. Both at equal mass concentration and equal surface area concentration,α is only slightly dependent on particle sizes when compared to its dependence on ionic strength. Further, it was found that the specific surface coverage was similar for 0.095 μm, 0.53 μm and 1.0 μm particles during the transient stage of filtration at any ionic strength when the surface area concentrations of those suspension were equal.     

气泡在颗粒床层表面的生成脱离行为

试验研究了气泡在颗粒床层表面的生成脱离过程及其行为特性,利用高速摄像技术揭示了进气管管径、颗粒床层高度、颗粒粒径等因素对气泡脱离直径及其生成周期的影响规律,对比分析了颗粒床层表面和进气管管口的气泡生成脱离行为差异。研究结果表明：在1500～3000μm粒径范围的床层表面所生成气泡的初始形态相对更扁小,气泡也更快向扁平状演变;颗粒粒径的增大使得进气流量对气泡形态的影响减弱;管径和颗粒床层高度的增大可以有效促进气泡脱离直径的增长,但延缓了气泡的生成脱离,增加了气泡的生成周期;颗粒粒径对气泡生成周期的影响随着进气流量的增大而逐渐减弱;气泡在颗粒床层表面和管口的生成脱离行为存在显著差异,相比之下,150～300μm粒径范围的颗粒床层对气泡的生成脱离具有更明显的阻碍作用,其表面所生成气泡的脱离直径和生成周期相对较大。     

Modeling adsorption and order formation by colloidal particles on a solid surface: A Brownian dynamics study

A three-dimensional simulation model for colloidal dispersion system with an adsorptive surface under a specified bulk concentration was developed basing on the Brownian dynamics technique, and the adsorption process of electrostatically stabilized colloidal particles with radius of 50 nm onto a planar surface with counter charge was simulated. The particle-particle and particle-surface interactions were modeled on the DLVO theory. The adsorbed particles are found to form hexagonally ordered array, only if the surface coverage is above a certain threshold, which varies depending on the ionic strength or the interaction potentials. Through the analysis of the ordered structure, we found that the determinant factor for the order formation is “one-directional average force” acting between adsorbed particles, which exhibits a common value regardless of the ionic strength. Also, looking at the last process for establishing the order, we developed a model that can predict the potential barrier for the order formation. Further, the order formation was proven to be a stochastic phenomenon, and a model to describe the probability against time was developed and its quantitative validity was demonstrated.     

A study on the synthesis of acrylic composite particles and investigation of their characterization

Core-shell latexes were synthesized by sequential emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), and ethyl acrylate (EA) in the presence of anionic surfactant, and the characteristics of these latexes were evaluated. The core latex had to be synthesized carefully to avoid the formation of secondary particles. The sequential polymerization method adopted for this synthesis took advantage of stabilizing particles grown during shell polymerization. In core-shell latex polymerization, to suppress the generation of new particles and to minimize the gelation during the shell polymerization, the amount of surfactant (Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate: SDBS) should be reduced to the minimum, 0.01 wt% and 0.02 wt% of SDBS to amount of monomer, respectively, when the Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and Polystyrene (PSt) core latexes are prepared. In addition, the monomer pre-emulsion method is better than monomer-add method. The core-shell structure for composite latex synthesized was demonstrated by Particle Size Analysis (PSA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), formability of film, and hydrolysis under NaOH solution.     

Effect of hydrothermal corrosion on the fracture strength of SiC layer in tristructural-isotropic fuel particles

The hydrothermal corrosion behavior of SiC layer in tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles and its effect on the fracture strength were investigated. The corrosion test was performed using the static autoclave at 400°C/10.3 MPa. The SiC layer exhibited a thickness loss and the corrosion rate followed a linear law. During corrosion, carbon was formed on the SiC surface due to the loss of Si. The corrosion was found preferentially occurred at the grain boundary of SiC, leading to the grain detachment and pit formation. The rate determining step of the corrosion was SiO₂ formation rather than SiO₂ dissolution in the hydrothermal environment. The fracture strength of SiC shell after corrosion was evaluated using the crush test. It showed a slight decrease with an increase in corrosion time, due to the thickness reduction in SiC layer. The results of this study demonstrated that the SiC in TRISO particles has good corrosion resistance in the hydrothermal environment.     

A discrete-sectional model for particle growth in aerosol reactor: Application to titania particles

A one-dimensional discrete-sectional model has been developed to simulate particle growth in aerosol reactors. Two sets of differential equations for volume and surface area, respectively, were solved simultaneously to determine the size distributions of agglomerates and primary particles. The surface area equations were derived in such a way that the coagulation integrals calculated for the volume equations could be used for the surface area equations as well, which is new in this model. The model was applied to a production of TiO₂ particles by oxidation of titanium tetrachloride. Model predictions were compared with experimental data and those of a two-dimensional sectional model. Good agreement was shown in calculated particle size distributions between the present model and the two-dimensional model, which is more rigorous but demands a large amount of computer time and memory. Compared to experimental data, the primary particle size calculated by the model was more sensitive to the variation of reactor temperature.     

A novel theoretical model to predict the temperature-dependent fracture strength of ceramic materials

A novel temperature-dependent fracture strength model for ceramic materials is developed, based on a critical fracture energy density associated with material fracture comprising strain energy, the corresponding equivalent potential energy, and kinetic energy of atoms per unit volume. It relates the fracture strength at high temperatures to that at the reference temperature, the temperature-dependent Young’s modulus, the temperature, and the melting point. The model is verified by comparison with experimental data of ceramic materials. The model predictions and the experimental data are in excellent agreement with each other. As the Young’s modulus can easily be obtained by experiments and the melting point can easily be obtained by materials handbook, the model can easily predict the fracture strength of ceramic materials at arbitrary temperatures.     

Effects of surface force interactions on an NF/UF membrane

Appreciation of a membrane's surface chemistry and steric exclusion character is needed to truly understand and predict membrane performance for specific industrial separations. The interpreter of membrane characterization data must consider both factors in the assessment of separation potential. The test conditions employed will strongly influence the separation data outcome, as will inherent surface force interactions between the membrane and solution components. SEPA CF cell solute challenges and affinity chromatography methods are useful tools to characterize the pore size and surface character of ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes.

The characterization data presented demonstrate the separation potential of B-type membranes. For example, the combination of the B-type membrane surface charge and pore size affords economical separations of salts from organics. The anionic surface charge of B-type membranes also makes them competitive for high fouling applications. Dye concentration, paper pulp waste treatment and similar applications appear promising for B-type membranes where traditional membranes are not well suited.     

A comparison of hydrodynamic methods for mitigating particle fouling in submerged membrane filtration

Hydrodynamic methods are used for mitigating particle fouling and for enhancing the filtrate flux in submerged membrane filtration. In the comparison membrane blocking-cake formation filtration system, the effects of filtration pressure, aeration intensity, backwash duration and stepwise increasing pressure on the filtration resistances and filtration flux are measured and discussed. Aeration is helpful for reducing particle deposition on the membrane surface, while stepwise increasing pressure can mainly mitigate internal fouling of the membrane. Periodic backwash can significantly reduce both the resistance caused by the membrane internal fouling and by cake formation; consequently, it can effectively recover the filtrate flux. In contrast, increasing the pressure in constant pressure filtration leads the flux to be decreased due to more severe membrane blockage. According to the comparison of the long-term flux and the received filtrate volume, among these hydrodynamic methods, the periodic backwash with longer duration is the optimal strategy for the filtration.     

膜系统在生物技术中应用的研究进展

膜系统以其独特的构型和优越的性能而广泛应用于生化反应、物质纯化以及分子、乳剂、微粒的回收、生产中。膜系统利用膜的高选择性、单位体积的高接触面积及其对两相混合或接触水平调控的优势在生物技术中占有重要地位。本文主要论述了各种薄膜的应用研究,包括已经广泛使用的超滤和微滤、新出现的膜生物反应器、膜色谱以及用于制备乳剂和微粒的膜接触器等,并对上述膜过程在膜材料、模型设计、操作参数及在生物技术领域的应用等方面进行了深入研究。     

Effects of water vapor on the oxidation and the fracture strength of SiC layer in TRISO fuel particles

Steam oxidation of silicon carbide (SiC) layer in nuclear fuel particles were performed in flowing argon‐water vapor mixture with a total pressure of 1 bar at 1173‐1673 K. Both the phase composition and the microstructure of the oxide scale on the SiC layer varied with the oxidation temperature. Reaction rates of water vapor with the SiC layer were determined by measuring the oxide scale thickness. It was found that the oxidation of SiC layer follows the parabolic law. The activation energy was calculated to be 103±11 kJ/mol. It is proposed that the rate determine step of the oxidation is the diffusion of water vapor molecules in the oxide scale. The fracture strength of SiC shell after steam oxidation was evaluated using a crush test. The fracture strength decreased with the increase in the oxidation temperature due to the thinning of the SiC layer.