Influence of Water Compositions and Conditioning on Flux Enhancement in an Immersed Membrane System

Abstract

The objective was to quantify the importance of operational conditions, aeration, and physico‐chemical conditioning on membrane fouling intensity. The suspension filterability was also analysed by using frontal filtration and a cake filtration model. Results pointed out the moderated role of aeration to reduce compound accumulation on the membrane surface. It did not appear as a determining criterion to prevent membrane fouling. In contrast, the physico‐chemical conditioning appeared as a determining criterion to increase critical flux. According to the experimental conditions 200 l/m²/h/bar membrane permeability could be maintained transmembrane pressure (TMP) when filtering stored rainwater. This permeability value was 2–3 times higher than the values obtained without conditioning. Moreover, according to the low turbidity of such stored rainwater and because of the high selectivity of the membrane, the coagulation step, a very low amount of 10 mg/l FeCl₃, was sufficient to intensify the filtration step. This conditioning interest appeared less significant when filtering salted water in immersed membrane systems, but a 20 mg/l FeCl₃ addition appeared sufficient to double the value of critical flux. Nevertheless filtration in frontal mode pointed out the significant impact of physico‐chemical conditioning in reducing the cake deposit hydraulic resistance.