Comprehensive Review of Membrane Fouling Control Mechanisms

Volume: 11 | Issue: 02 | Year 2025 | Subscription
International Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering
Received Date: 02/17/2025
Acceptance Date: 02/20/2025
Published On: 2025-06-20
First Page: 1
Last Page: 9

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By: Keka Rana

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India.

Abstract

One of the biggest problems with membrane-based separation procedures is membrane fouling. As particles, organic matter, microbes, and other materials build up on the membrane’s surface or inside its pores, the effectiveness of membranes – such as those used in reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration – declines over time. The effectiveness and longevity of the membrane are eventually lowered because of this fouling, which causes a drop in flux and a rise in transmembrane pressure (TMP). Cake formation (concentration polarization), membrane pore blocking, organic fouling, inorganic fouling (scaling), biofouling, colloidal fouling, chemical fouling, fouling, due to an imbalance in hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, and fouling resulting from an imbalance in hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity are some of the mechanisms of membrane fouling. Numerous techniques have been used to address fouling problems, such as pre-treating the feed water, cleaning the membrane surface chemically and physically, altering the membrane’s characteristics, and optimizing operational parameters like temperature, transmembrane pressure, and crossflow velocity. The outcomes of these tactics have been encouraging. Many membrane modules have been developed to solve these issues, but their ability to enhance the membrane surface is severely limited. Dynamic Shear Enhanced Membrane Filtration Pilots (DSEMFPs) are the result of these difficulties. DSEMFPs’ special shear-controlling capabilities efficiently lessen fouling and contribute to the maintenance of acceptable flux levels. Additionally, they have an edge over other fouling mitigation strategies due to their integrated self-cleaning feature. To improve comprehension and eventually streamline and simplify the use of membrane-based separation processes at bigger scales, a thorough examination of each of these fouling extenuation techniques is necessary. To determine the best strategies for reducing fouling, a thorough analysis of the different fouling control techniques is essential.

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How to cite this article: Keka Rana, Comprehensive Review of Membrane Fouling Control Mechanisms. International Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering. 2025; 11(02): 1-9p.

How to cite this URL: Keka Rana, Comprehensive Review of Membrane Fouling Control Mechanisms. International Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering. 2025; 11(02): 1-9p. Available from:https://journalspub.com/publication/ijpse/article=18424

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