FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

BELLVILLE CAMPUS

PROJECT III: EVALUATION OF MEMBRANE RO FOULING MINIMIZATION BY

MEMBRANE SURFACE MODIFICATION USING TIO2

LITERATURE STUDY

Subject: Research Project

Subject code: RPR580S

Supervisor: Prof. Mujahid Aziz

Name: Resha

Surname: Chetty

Student number: 217121675

Due date: 13 April 2023

I certify that this document is my own unaided work, except for the assistance received from

the teaching staff. I undertake not to pass this report onto any student.

Signature Date submitted

R. Chetty 13 April 2023

I
Abstract

II
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................... II
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 AIM AND APPROACH..................................................................................................................................1
1.2 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT............................................................................................................................1
2 LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................................ 2
2.1 WASTEWATER EFFLUENT..........................................................................................................................2
2.2 MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR (MBR)..............................................................................................................2
2.3 MEMBRANE FOULING IN MBRS................................................................................................................2
2.4 MBR COUPLED WITH RO PROCESS............................................................................................................2
2.5 FOULING OF RO MEMBRANES...................................................................................................................2
2.6 METHODS OF MITIGATING RO MEMBRANE FOULING....................................................................................2
3 REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................ 3

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INTRODUCTION
Wastewater treatment is an essential element in providing a means of solving the existing
water crisis. The availability of clean freshwater has been impacted by certain factors such
as climate change, industrialization and population growth, which induces a need for
wastewater treatment and reuse (Mujahid Aziz & Godwill Kasongo, 2021).

1.1 Aim and approach

The aim of this project is to modify an XLE4040 RO membrane using Titanium dioxide and
UV, and to test the modified membranes with synthetic secondary effluent.

1.2 Scope of the project

The project involves modifying an XLE4040 RO membrane using Titanium dioxide and UV,
thereafter testing the modified membranes with synthetic secondary effluent:
 Modification with TiO2 at different concentrations (2, 40 and 60 ppm) followed by
irradiation (15s, 30s, 45s).
 Experimental fouling tests are conducted using the synthetic feed.
 Membrane analysis using SEM-EDX and FTIR.

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2 Literature review
2.1 Wastewater effluent
Wastewater is a combination of waste produced by water from residential, commercial and
industrial facilities which is drained into groundwater or surface water sources (Ince & Ince,

2022). The wastewater must be treated before discharge as it contains pathogenic

microorganisms and organic matter. Therefore, wastewater treatment is an essential
measure that must be considered before discharging into the environment or for potable
water reuse.
Wastewater effluent can be divided into three categories, namely: primary, secondary and
tertiary wastewater effluent.

2.2 Membrane bioreactor (MBR)

Membrane bioreactor technology is preferred over the activated sludge process which has
been the conventional municipal wastewater technology over the last century. The MBR is
an important innovation in the wastewater treatment technologies as it overcomes the
drawbacks associated with the activated sludge process, which includes a large space
requirement for secondary clarifiers, liquid-solid separation issues, and producing excessive
sludge (Ref). MBRs are used for both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment and
reclamation.

2.3 Membrane fouling in MBRs

Although MBRs are widely used in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment,
membrane fouling remains a major drawback as it reduces the performance of the
membrane and membrane lifespan, which leads to an increase in maintenance and
operating costs.

2.4 MBR coupled with RO process

2.5 Fouling of RO membranes
2.6 Methods of mitigating RO membrane fouling

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 3 References
Ince, M. & Ince, K.O. 2022. Wastewater Treatment. M. Ince & O. Kaplan Ince, eds. IntechOpen.
https://www.intechopen.com/books/11173.
Mujahid Aziz & Godwill Kasongo. 2021. Improving Resistance to Fouling of Aromatic Polyamide
Thin-Film Composite Reverse Osmosis Membrane by Surface Grafting of N,N’-Dimethyl
Aminoethyl Methacrylate (DMAEMA). Journal of Water Chemistry and Technology, 43(4):
312–320.