Membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) restricts their widespread application in water and wastewater treatment because it reduces productivity and increases maintenance and operating costs. More and more research has taken place to investigate and control membrane fouling processes. However microprocesses of membrane fouling is still unclear because of the lack of characterization of fouling processes. Progress in developing a means for characterizing membrane fouling has been impeded by the lack of suitable non-invasive fouling measurement techniques. Recently, the application of multi-photon microscopy(MPM) is being used as an in situ non-invasive measurement. In this project MPM associated with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) will be used to online record the microprocesses of membrane fouling and to evaluate the dynamical characteristics of fouling cake. Mixed liquid in MBRs containing nature organic matter, suspended solid, humic acid and biomass may plays an improtant role in membrane fouling. In order to investigate the interactions of these pollutants, the single and combined effect of the multicomponent mixed liquid on membrane fouling will be seperately evaluated. Base on multivariate regression analysis of these variations, the the microporcesses and controlling machanism will be finally discussed and novel fouling control methods will be suggested and evaluated. 

Performing Organization: Institute of Urban Environment, CAS
Sponsor: National Nature Science Foundation of China
Headed by Zhang Kai-song
Start Date: 2008.01
End Date: 2010.12