A nalysis of membrane fouling in the treatment of water solutions containing humic acids and mineral salts

• T he investigations substantiated the thesis that t he hydrophilicity of the membranes noticea bly affects the efficiency of treating water p olluted with natural organic matter by u ltrafiltration. • S trongly hydrophilic membranes (made of r egenerated cellulose) displayed a high p ermeability and a low proneness to fouling. W hen the ultrafiltration process involved h ydrophobic membranes (made of polya ramide or polysulfone), hydraulic efficiency d ecreased and the membranes were far more p rone to fouling. • I ncrease o f pH in the solution reduced m embrane fouling and raised the efficiency of o rganic macroparticle retention. • T he presence of mineral salts in the solution b rought about a considerable deterioration of t he separation effect, a decrease in membrane p ermeability and an intensification of the f ouling phenomenon. R eferences [1] J.M.Laine, M.M. Clark and J. Malleviaile,JAWWA 82 (1990) 82. [2] M. Kabsch-Korbutowiczand K. Majewska-Nowak, Ochrona Srodowiska,60 (1996) 31. [3] C. Jucker and M.M. Clark, J. Membr. Sci., 97 (1994) 37. [4] INTERSEPcatalogue, 1996. [5] K. Majewska-Nowak, M. Kabsch-Korbutowicz, M. Bryjak and T. Winnieki, Proc., 7th World Filtration Congress, Budapest, 1996, pp. 885-889. [6] S. Nakatsuka, I. Nakate and T. Miyano,Desalination, 106 (1996) 55. [7] M. Cheryan, Ultrafiltration Handbook; Technicom 1986. [8] A.F. Bonner an C.R. O'Melia; Proc., Membrane Technologies in the Water Industry, AWWA, Orlando, 1991, pp. 239-252.