Abstract
Ambient particles in water are a much more severe threat to fouling a spiral-wound membrane element than natural organic matter (NOM). Particles deposit continuously and at a constant rate. Deposition rates, which are generally high ranging between 10 6–10 8 particle per hour, increase with increasing particle size. The presence of NOM increases the rate for particles > 1.0 μm in size while decreasing the rates for particles 0.5–1.0 μm in size. Whereas for NOM adsorption approaches a steady-state level after a period of about 2 weeks, adsorption is at most 12.6% of the available NOM mass in the feed water. Plotting of steady-state adsorption levels vs. feed water NOM concentrations on a log-log scale showed data conforming to a classic Freundlich isotherm model. Particles both > 1.0 μm and 0.5–1.0 μm in size interfere with NOM adsorption, reducing the amount of NOM adsorbed.
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