Tracking metal ion-induced organic membrane fouling in nanofiltration by adopting spectroscopic methods: observations and predictions
File(s)
Accepted version
Supporting information
Author(s)
Su, Zhaoyang
Liu, Ting
Li, Xing
Graham, Nigel JD
Yu, Wenzheng
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Natural organic matter (NOM) with the size approaching to membrane pore size is commonly considered as the crucial component leading to severe pore blocking and superfluous energy consumption. Aquatic metal ions coexisting with this NOM constituent (target NOM) exert a significant influence on membrane filtration performance; however, little work elucidated their interactions and the impacts on nanofiltration (NF). Therefore, we systematically investigated this issue by titrating three environmentally-relevant metal ions (Al3+, Fe3+ and Cu2+) into the target NOM sample obtained by pre-filtering using NF membrane. Fast spectrophotometric techniques were employed to observe the interactive performance. Results suggested that all metal ions at their critical concentrations caused severe flux decline; Cu2+ at a very low concentration of 5 μM, Al3+ and Fe3+ at 20 μM. NF performance recovered when the concentrations were beyond their critical values, and was improved at excessive concentration when flocs formed. Relationship between spectroscopic characteristics and NF performance was particularly addressed. UV–vis spectrum can be expected to be useful and predictive in membrane fouling control when Al3+ or Fe3+ presented. However, fluorescence fingerprint was not likely that effective since fluorescence intensity continuously reduced with the increasing metal ion concentration, attributed to their quenching effect on NOM fluorophores.
Date Issued
2020-03-15
Date Acceptance
2019-10-16
Citation
Science of the Total Environment, 2020, 708
ISSN
0048-9697
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Science of the Total Environment
Volume
708
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000506214900093&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Natural organic matter
Metal ions
Complexation
Nanofiltration
Spectrophotometric method
EMISSION MATRIX FLUORESCENCE
DRINKING-WATER TREATMENT
HUMIC-ACID
PORE BLOCKAGE
MATTER
ULTRAFILTRATION
BINDING
COAGULATION
PERFORMANCE
ABSORBENCY
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 135051
Date Publish Online
2019-11-02