Influence of inorganic scalants and natural organic matter on nanofiltration membrane fouling

Abstract

The influence of inorganic scalants and NOM on nanofiltration (NF) membrane fouling was investigated by a crossflow bench-scale test cell. Mathematical fouling models were used to determine kinetics and fouling mechanisms of NF membrane. It was observed that, with natural organic matter (NOM) at a concentration of 10 mg L −1, divalent cation, i.e. calcium (Ca 2+), exhibited greater flux decline than monovalent cation, i.e. sodium (Na +), while solution flux curves dominated cake formation model, especially at high ionic strength. For inorganic scalants of polyanions, i.e. carbonate (CO 3 2−), sulphate (SO 4 2−), and phosphate (PO 4 3−), solution flux curves were relatively fitted well with pore blocking model, possibly due to precipitated species formed and blocked on membrane surface and/or pores. For different divalent cations (i.e. calcium and magnesium (Mg 2+)), calcium showed greater flux decline than magnesium, possibly due to higher concentration of precipitated calcium species than that of precipitated magnesium species based on the pC (−log concentration) and pH diagram.