RO Membrane Fouling Prevention

Determining and executing a self-contained membrane cleaning cycle for a spacecraft water treatment system without human intervention. The cleaning strategy is optimized based on operational sensor data, historical cleaning data, and forecast fouling analysis. An AI model learns cleaning sequences from training data. The AI processes sensor data to determine cleaning cycles and sequences for a membrane. This automated cleaning strategy maximizes membrane performance recovery while minimizing resources compared to manual cleaning.

Source

Film evaluation system and method to accurately assess the health of reverse osmosis membranes used in water treatment. The system uses real-time measurements, adaptive algorithms, and flux comparisons to calculate diffusion rates and flow resistances that indicate membrane fouling and degradation. This allows determining the membrane's health state. The system also calculates optimal operating pressures and water recovery rates to minimize energy consumption in membrane treatment.

Source

Membrane fouling remains a persistent challenge in reverse osmosis (RO) systems. Devising effective strategies to mitigate membrane has become crucial for sustainable water treatment. Here, we propose titanium-based pre-coagulation strategy RO mitigation through regulation of the microbial habitat feed. The performance Ti(SO4)2 desulfurization wastewater and subsequent mechanism were systematically investigated. Our findings revealed that Ti induced an acidized environment, maintained balance between organic inorganic depositions, fostered beneficial community resisted rapid fouling. 20 day operations different scenarios (Ti, Al, Ctrl) showed group membranes highest normalized flux at 57.15%, outperforming Ctrl Al groups by 7.92% 15.16%, respectively. Microbial analyses, including taxonomic profiling metagenomic analysis, demonstrated Ti-based reduced dominance extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-secreting genera, such as Sphingopyxis, while promoting Terrimonas Paenarthrobacter, with acid-tolerance traits EPS production. This shift mitigated biofouling enhancing limiting biofilm... Read More

Source

Peroxyformic acid compositions for cleaning membranes used in filtration processes like reverse osmosis to remove biofilms and mineral deposits without damaging the membranes. The compositions are generated onsite using peroxyformic acid as a cleaning agent instead of conventional acidic or alkaline solutions. The peroxyformic acid efficiently kills and removes biofilms and minerals from membranes without negatively affecting the membrane material.

Source

Nowadays, reverse osmosis (RO) desalination has become a highly effective and economical solution to address water scarcity worldwide. The membranes used in this type of separation are influenced by both pre-treatment operations feed quality, leading fouling, complex phenomenon responsible for reducing treatment performance shortening membrane lifespan. In study, an autopsy RO from the Boujdour plant was performed, fouling prediction tool based on transmembrane pressure (TMP) developed using MATLAB/Simulink (R2015a) with artificial neural network (ANN) model. impact also examined through one year monitoring. A detailed analysis fouled conducted SEM/EDS techniques characterize membranes surface cross-section. results revealed significant fractures surface, predominantly consisting organic deposits (characterized high oxygen concentration 39.69%) inorganic including Si (7.99%), Al (2.79%), Mg (1.56%), Fe (1.27%), smaller quantities K (0.87%), S (0.36%), Ca (0.12%). ANN model predicting successfully developed, achieving R2 value 92.077% low mean square error (MSE) 0.005657. This pred... Read More

Source

Reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology offers a promising solution for mitigating water scarcity. However, one of the major challenges faced by RO membranes is biofouling, which significantly increases costs. Traditional simulation models often overlook environmental variability and do not incorporate effects membrane-surface modifications. This paper develops bacterial growth model prediction seawater performance, applicable to commercial membranes, can be either uncoated or coated with iron nanoparticles (FeNPs nZVI). FeNPs were selected due their known antimicrobial properties potential mitigate biofilm formation. The native bacterium Bacillus halotolerans MCC1 was used as biofouling bacterium. Growth kinetics determined at different temperatures (from 26 50 C) pH values 4 10) obtain parameters. Microbial on modeled using Monod equation. performance evaluated in terms hydraulic resistance permeate flux under clean biofouled conditions. validated data obtained laboratory scale. Bacteria grew faster 42 C 10. had more significant effect than temperature rate. FeNP-coated ex... Read More

Source

Operating a two-stage desalination system to prevent performance degradation without chemical cleaning. The method involves alternating between two water passing patterns. In the first pattern, water is fed to the first stage, concentrated there, and then fed to one of the second stage units. The other second stage unit receives diluted water instead. This is switched with the second pattern every 30-180 minutes. This allows the second stage units to periodically process lower-concentration feeds to prevent scale buildup.

Source

A method for desalinating produced water to produce high quality water suitable for reuse and disposal options beyond oil and gas applications. The method involves reducing the pH of produced water to 5-6 before desalination to convert carbonate ions into CO2 that can be stripped out. This reduces the saturation of calcium and magnesium carbonate, allowing desalination without scaling issues. It eliminates the need for expensive lime softening prior to desalination.

Source

An inorganic membrane with a hierarchical pore structure and patterned surface that enhances filtration flux and reduces fouling in water and wastewater treatment. The membrane has multiple layers with gradually decreasing pore sizes. The outer layers have larger pores and the inner layer closest to the feed has the smallest pores. This gradient structure prevents fine particles from the active layer clogging the substrate. The patterned surface on the active layer further improves flux and antifouling by creating extra surfaces and turbulence. The membrane is made by depositing layers with controlled pore sizes and then 3D printing or imprinting a pattern on the active layer.

Source

Membrane biofouling is one of the most persistent challenges faced by desalination plants, particularly those utilizing reverse osmosis (RO) technology. Addressing this issue crucial to reduce maintenance costs, improve efficiency, and extend lifespan membranes. This study introduces SpectroMarine, an advanced optical water quality sensor that provides real-time data on organic content biomass levels, enabling operators take proactive measures for key parameters such as chlorophyll, total carbon oxidization agent prevent biofouling. The combines fluorescence absorption spectroscopy with Internet Things (IoT) integration, offering immediate analytics actionable insights. Field tests demonstrated significant potential reducing operational energy consumption, optimizing chemical use according quality, ultimately enhancing plant performance. paper discusses sensors design, application, outcomes, providing a roadmap revolutionizing monitoring in plants.

Source

Filter structure design for water purifiers that improves cleaning efficiency and prevents adsorption between components. The filter has wound membranes, a spacer, and a seal assembly around them. The membranes are spaced apart along the radial direction when wound around the tube. This creates gaps between the membranes for cleaning fluid to flow through. The seal assembly has a harder material than the membranes to prevent adsorption. This allows reliable cleaning and prevents blocking. The spacer maintains space between membranes. An adapter connects the tube to the spaced membranes. The design improves cleaning efficiency, prevents adsorption, and simplifies manufacturing compared to prior art.

Source

Optimizing reverse osmosis water desalination systems using machine learning to reduce operating costs and improve performance by predicting when to clean the membranes. The system measures parameters like feed pressure, flow, salinity, temperature, etc. and uses a trained ML model to determine fouling levels and optimize flow rates through the stages. This allows reducing energy use while maintaining permeate production. By predicting when fouling will inflect and decline, cleaning can be timed to minimize energy vs waiting for a 10% flux drop. The ML model also balances flow across stages for energy savings.

Source

Biocide compositions and methods for maintaining, cleaning, and defouling reverse osmosis membranes using a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution containing a bromide ion source. The stabilized hypochlorous acid solution forms small amounts of bromine in situ that effectively control biofouling without harming sensitive membranes. The biocide composition can be used as an online biocide to prevent fouling in reverse osmosis systems, as well as for offline cleaning of fouled membranes.

Source

Reverse osmosis filter system that improves efficiency and longevity compared to conventional RO filters. The system uses additional components like pre-filters, turbines, and end cap filters to more effectively remove impurities and prevent clogging. The components are arranged inside the filter housing in a specific order. This configuration allows larger impurities to be trapped and separated out before reaching the RO membrane, reducing membrane fouling. The turbine component generates fluid flow to help flush out impurities. The end cap filter catches any remaining particles before exiting the system.

Source

Filtration membrane unit and holder configuration that improves membrane cleaning maintainability by balancing filtrate flow rates across the membrane. The membrane unit has a socket that extends laterally and has an end inserted into a recess. The socket has two discharge ports, one on each side of the center, instead of just one at the end. This balances the suction force and filtrate flow rates across the membrane, preventing clogging from uneven flow.

Source

Water treatment method and apparatus to prevent biofouling of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes without harming the membranes. The method involves intermittently adding biocides to the water feed to the RO membrane. The biocide dose and frequency are adjusted based on membrane fouling levels. This prevents excessive biocide concentrations that can harm the membrane. The biocide addition is tuned to keep oxidation potential below a threshold without exceeding it. This prevents biocide-induced membrane fouling while still providing adequate biocide dosing to prevent organic growth.

Source

ABSTRACT The lack of safe drinking water infrastructures in off-grid communities is a significant risk to sustainable development, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis (PVRO) has emerged as promising method due its performance, scalability, consistency, the robust global supply chain components. However, reliability issues like biofouling can quickly reduce shorten membrane lifetime, hinder adoption settings. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) ranging from 200 285 nm wavelengths have been shown number microorganisms by damaging their DNA, but there are mixed results about use mitigating systems. Herein, we aim provide preliminary assessment challenges associated with using UV-LEDs pre-treatment measure PVRO systems whether it curb feedwater, thereby For experimental evaluation, bacterial feedwater was prepared Escherichia coli ATCC 11229. Batch experiments Petri dishes 275 UV-LED radiometer showed non-uniform illumination target region, indicating need optimizing reactor design consistent dosage. Optical density measur... Read More

Source

Osmotic membrane separation system with feed and draw recirculation loops in each module to improve efficiency and prevent fouling. The system has a series of osmosis modules where feed and draw solutions are circulated co-currently through each module. Feed recirculation loops connect feed inlet to outlet of each module. Draw recirculation loops connect draw inlet to outlet. This allows controlled flow rates, solute concentrations, and hydrostatic pressures in each loop. The bulk feed and draw streams flow counter-currently through the system as a whole. The recirculation loops prevent boundary layer buildup and fouling. They also allow mixing of partially concentrated streams to reduce driving force and enhance membrane efficiency.

Source

Filter leaf for reverse osmosis filters with raised features on the membrane surface that enhance filtration performance and cleaning efficiency. The raised features are formed directly on the membrane using printing or embossing techniques. The feature configuration optimizes flow characteristics during normal filtration and reverse flushing. During filtration, the features induce higher velocities to resist fouling. During flushing, they induce higher velocities for scouring. This eliminates the need for cleaning chemicals and allows using reverse flow for cleaning.

Source

Method and inhibitor for suppressing silica fouling in reverse osmosis membrane systems. The method involves adding an acrylic acid-based polymer and/or a maleic acid-based polymer, along with a combined chlorine-based oxidizing agent and/or a combined bromine-based oxidizing agent, to the water being treated. This combination helps prevent silica fouling on both the concentrate and feed sides of the membrane. The acrylic/maleic acid polymers inhibit scale formation, while the oxidizing agents clean the membrane surface.

Source