Diagnosis, prediction and prevention of biofouling of NF and RO membranes

J. S. Vrouwenvelder; D. Van Der Kooij

doi:10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00295-8

Diagnosis, prediction and prevention of biofouling of NF and RO membranes

J. S. Vrouwenvelder^*, D. Van Der Kooij

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

195 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biofouling phenomena were studied in 30 membrane elements (autopsy) for nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) collected from 13 plants. Biomass parameters included adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), Total Direct Cell counts (TDC) and Heterotropic Plate Counts (HPC), respectively. The concentrations of biomass were related to the extent of variation of operational parameters as flux (normalized flux: MTC) and/or pressure drops (normalized pressure drop: NPD), viz. highest biomass parameters were observed in plants with the highest changes of MTC and/or NPD. Monitoring of feed water from NF and RO plants was performed with biomass parameters (ATP and TDC), the easily assimilable organic carbon (AOC) test and the Biofilm Formation Rate (BFR) in a biofilmmonitor. Monitoring of the feed water showed that severe biofouling occurred in cases where the feed water had BFR-values - temporarily - exceeding 120 pg ATP/cm².d and/or the AOC-value exceeded 80 μg Ac-C/1. BFR-values lower than 1 pg ATP/cm².d enabled stable operating for periods up to two year without cleaning. For BFR-values between 1 and 120pg ATP/ cm².d as well as AOC-levels below 80μg is still unknown whether biofouling occurs. Monitoring also showed that low concentrations of biodegradable compounds (μg/1) in the feed water could lead to biofouling. The results of monitoring of feed water agreed with the data from autopsies and extent of operational problems. Biofouling was observed in 12 of the 13 plants. Two plants suffered from biofouling caused by dosage of chemicals. Elucidation of the relationships between test parameters and extent of operational problems (NPD increase and MTC decrease) under different conditions requires more research. Based on such data more quantitative criteria for feed water quality can be defined enabling further prevention of biofouling. Also, further investigation is needed for the selection and preparation of effective cleaning chemicals and cleaning strategies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	65-71
Number of pages	7
Journal	Desalination
Volume	139
Issue number	1-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00295-8
State	Published - Sep 20 2001
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Antiscalant
Autopsy
Biofilm formation rate
Biofouling
Drinking water
Fouling
Membranes
Nanofiltration
Reverse osmosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Chemical Engineering
General Materials Science
Water Science and Technology
Mechanical Engineering

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10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00295-8

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title = "Diagnosis, prediction and prevention of biofouling of NF and RO membranes",

abstract = "Biofouling phenomena were studied in 30 membrane elements (autopsy) for nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) collected from 13 plants. Biomass parameters included adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), Total Direct Cell counts (TDC) and Heterotropic Plate Counts (HPC), respectively. The concentrations of biomass were related to the extent of variation of operational parameters as flux (normalized flux: MTC) and/or pressure drops (normalized pressure drop: NPD), viz. highest biomass parameters were observed in plants with the highest changes of MTC and/or NPD. Monitoring of feed water from NF and RO plants was performed with biomass parameters (ATP and TDC), the easily assimilable organic carbon (AOC) test and the Biofilm Formation Rate (BFR) in a biofilmmonitor. Monitoring of the feed water showed that severe biofouling occurred in cases where the feed water had BFR-values - temporarily - exceeding 120 pg ATP/cm2.d and/or the AOC-value exceeded 80 μg Ac-C/1. BFR-values lower than 1 pg ATP/cm2.d enabled stable operating for periods up to two year without cleaning. For BFR-values between 1 and 120pg ATP/ cm2.d as well as AOC-levels below 80μg is still unknown whether biofouling occurs. Monitoring also showed that low concentrations of biodegradable compounds (μg/1) in the feed water could lead to biofouling. The results of monitoring of feed water agreed with the data from autopsies and extent of operational problems. Biofouling was observed in 12 of the 13 plants. Two plants suffered from biofouling caused by dosage of chemicals. Elucidation of the relationships between test parameters and extent of operational problems (NPD increase and MTC decrease) under different conditions requires more research. Based on such data more quantitative criteria for feed water quality can be defined enabling further prevention of biofouling. Also, further investigation is needed for the selection and preparation of effective cleaning chemicals and cleaning strategies.",

keywords = "Antiscalant, Autopsy, Biofilm formation rate, Biofouling, Drinking water, Fouling, Membranes, Nanofiltration, Reverse osmosis",

author = "Vrouwenvelder, {J. S.} and {Van Der Kooij}, D.",

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T1 - Diagnosis, prediction and prevention of biofouling of NF and RO membranes

AU - Vrouwenvelder, J. S.

AU - Van Der Kooij, D.

PY - 2001/9/20

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N2 - Biofouling phenomena were studied in 30 membrane elements (autopsy) for nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) collected from 13 plants. Biomass parameters included adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), Total Direct Cell counts (TDC) and Heterotropic Plate Counts (HPC), respectively. The concentrations of biomass were related to the extent of variation of operational parameters as flux (normalized flux: MTC) and/or pressure drops (normalized pressure drop: NPD), viz. highest biomass parameters were observed in plants with the highest changes of MTC and/or NPD. Monitoring of feed water from NF and RO plants was performed with biomass parameters (ATP and TDC), the easily assimilable organic carbon (AOC) test and the Biofilm Formation Rate (BFR) in a biofilmmonitor. Monitoring of the feed water showed that severe biofouling occurred in cases where the feed water had BFR-values - temporarily - exceeding 120 pg ATP/cm2.d and/or the AOC-value exceeded 80 μg Ac-C/1. BFR-values lower than 1 pg ATP/cm2.d enabled stable operating for periods up to two year without cleaning. For BFR-values between 1 and 120pg ATP/ cm2.d as well as AOC-levels below 80μg is still unknown whether biofouling occurs. Monitoring also showed that low concentrations of biodegradable compounds (μg/1) in the feed water could lead to biofouling. The results of monitoring of feed water agreed with the data from autopsies and extent of operational problems. Biofouling was observed in 12 of the 13 plants. Two plants suffered from biofouling caused by dosage of chemicals. Elucidation of the relationships between test parameters and extent of operational problems (NPD increase and MTC decrease) under different conditions requires more research. Based on such data more quantitative criteria for feed water quality can be defined enabling further prevention of biofouling. Also, further investigation is needed for the selection and preparation of effective cleaning chemicals and cleaning strategies.

AB - Biofouling phenomena were studied in 30 membrane elements (autopsy) for nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) collected from 13 plants. Biomass parameters included adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), Total Direct Cell counts (TDC) and Heterotropic Plate Counts (HPC), respectively. The concentrations of biomass were related to the extent of variation of operational parameters as flux (normalized flux: MTC) and/or pressure drops (normalized pressure drop: NPD), viz. highest biomass parameters were observed in plants with the highest changes of MTC and/or NPD. Monitoring of feed water from NF and RO plants was performed with biomass parameters (ATP and TDC), the easily assimilable organic carbon (AOC) test and the Biofilm Formation Rate (BFR) in a biofilmmonitor. Monitoring of the feed water showed that severe biofouling occurred in cases where the feed water had BFR-values - temporarily - exceeding 120 pg ATP/cm2.d and/or the AOC-value exceeded 80 μg Ac-C/1. BFR-values lower than 1 pg ATP/cm2.d enabled stable operating for periods up to two year without cleaning. For BFR-values between 1 and 120pg ATP/ cm2.d as well as AOC-levels below 80μg is still unknown whether biofouling occurs. Monitoring also showed that low concentrations of biodegradable compounds (μg/1) in the feed water could lead to biofouling. The results of monitoring of feed water agreed with the data from autopsies and extent of operational problems. Biofouling was observed in 12 of the 13 plants. Two plants suffered from biofouling caused by dosage of chemicals. Elucidation of the relationships between test parameters and extent of operational problems (NPD increase and MTC decrease) under different conditions requires more research. Based on such data more quantitative criteria for feed water quality can be defined enabling further prevention of biofouling. Also, further investigation is needed for the selection and preparation of effective cleaning chemicals and cleaning strategies.

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KW - Autopsy

KW - Biofilm formation rate

KW - Biofouling

KW - Drinking water

KW - Fouling

KW - Membranes

KW - Nanofiltration

KW - Reverse osmosis

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DO - 10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00295-8

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SN - 0011-9164

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JO - Desalination

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IS - 1-3

ER -

Diagnosis, prediction and prevention of biofouling of NF and RO membranes

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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