Reduction of energy demand for UF cross-flow membranes in MBR by sponge ball cleaning

Mohammad Issa , Sven-Uwe Geiben , Alfons Vogelpohl

Abstract

Sponge ball cleaning can generate an abrasion effect, which leads to an attractive increasing in both permeate flux and membrane rejection. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the daily sponge ball cleaning (SBC) on the performance of different UF cross-flow membrane modules integrated with a bioreactor. Two 1"-membrane modules and one 1/2"-membrane module were tested. The parameters measured and controlled are temperature, pH, viscosity, particle size, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total suspended solids (TSS), and permeate flux. The permeate flux could be improved by 60%, for some modules, after 11 days of daily sponge ball cleaning at a transmembrane pressure of 350 kPa and a flow velocity of 4 m/s. Rejection values of all tested modules were improved by 10%. The highest permeate flux of 195 L/m2.h was achieved using a 1"-membrane module with the aid of its negatively charged membrane material and the daily sponge ball cleaning. In addition, the enhancement in the permeate flux caused by daily sponge ball cleaning improved the energy specific demand for all tested modules. The negatively charged membrane showed the lowest energy specific demand of 1.31 kWh/m3 in combination with the highest flux, which is a very competitive result.

Key Words

energy specific demand; flux; rejection; sponge ball cleaning; UF cross-flow membrane

Address

Mohammad Issa — Department of Wastewater Process Engineering, CUTEC Forschungszentrum, Technische Universität Clausthal, Leibniz Str. 21+23, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
Sven-Uwe Geiben — Chair of Environmental Process Engineering, Department of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Secr. KF 2, Strabe des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Alfons Vogelpohl — Technocon GmbH, Tannenhöhe 2, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

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