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Analysis of membrane fouling by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique

Virtanen, Tiina ; Rudolph, Gregor LU orcid ; Lopatina, Anastasiia ; Al-Rudainy, Basel LU ; Schagerlöf, Herje LU ; Puro, Liisa ; Kallioinen, Mari and Lipnizki, Frank LU orcid (2020) In Scientific Reports 10.
Abstract
Membrane fouling is the major factor limiting the wider applicability of the membrane-based technologies in water treatment and in separation and purification processes of biorefineries, pulp and paper industry, food industry and other sectors. Endeavors to prevent and minimize fouling requires a deep understanding on the fouling mechanisms and their relative effects. In this study, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique was applied to get an insight into pore-level membrane fouling phenomena occurring in ultrafiltration of wood-based streams. The fouling of commercial polysulfone and polyethersulfone membranes by black liquor, thermomechanical pulping process water and pressurized hot-water extract was... (More)
Membrane fouling is the major factor limiting the wider applicability of the membrane-based technologies in water treatment and in separation and purification processes of biorefineries, pulp and paper industry, food industry and other sectors. Endeavors to prevent and minimize fouling requires a deep understanding on the fouling mechanisms and their relative effects. In this study, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique was applied to get an insight into pore-level membrane fouling phenomena occurring in ultrafiltration of wood-based streams. The fouling of commercial polysulfone and polyethersulfone membranes by black liquor, thermomechanical pulping process water and pressurized hot-water extract was investigated with BET analysis, infrared spectroscopy, contact angle analysis and pure water permeability measurements. Particular emphasis was paid to the applicability of BET for membrane fouling characterization. The formation of a fouling layer was detected as an increase in cumulative pore volumes and pore areas in the meso-pores region. Pore blocking was seen as disappearance of meso-pores and micro-pores. The results indicate that the presented approach of using BET analysis combined with IR spectroscopy can provide complementary information revealing both the structure of fouling layer and the chemical nature of foulants. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Membrane fouling, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller
in
Scientific Reports
volume
10
article number
3427
pages
10 pages
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:32098983
  • scopus:85085541244
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-020-59994-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b7775080-87de-41ad-800d-a72aef8529ae
date added to LUP
2020-03-20 16:00:01
date last changed
2023-12-18 17:24:09
@article{b7775080-87de-41ad-800d-a72aef8529ae,
  abstract     = {{Membrane fouling is the major factor limiting the wider applicability of the membrane-based technologies in water treatment and in separation and purification processes of biorefineries, pulp and paper industry, food industry and other sectors. Endeavors to prevent and minimize fouling requires a deep understanding on the fouling mechanisms and their relative effects. In this study, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique was applied to get an insight into pore-level membrane fouling phenomena occurring in ultrafiltration of wood-based streams. The fouling of commercial polysulfone and polyethersulfone membranes by black liquor, thermomechanical pulping process water and pressurized hot-water extract was investigated with BET analysis, infrared spectroscopy, contact angle analysis and pure water permeability measurements. Particular emphasis was paid to the applicability of BET for membrane fouling characterization. The formation of a fouling layer was detected as an increase in cumulative pore volumes and pore areas in the meso-pores region. Pore blocking was seen as disappearance of meso-pores and micro-pores. The results indicate that the presented approach of using BET analysis combined with IR spectroscopy can provide complementary information revealing both the structure of fouling layer and the chemical nature of foulants.}},
  author       = {{Virtanen, Tiina and Rudolph, Gregor and Lopatina, Anastasiia and Al-Rudainy, Basel and Schagerlöf, Herje and Puro, Liisa and Kallioinen, Mari and Lipnizki, Frank}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  keywords     = {{Membrane fouling; Brunauer-Emmet-Teller}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Analysis of membrane fouling by Brunauer-Emmet-Teller nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59994-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-020-59994-1}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}