Prediction of particulate fouling in full-scale reverse osmosis plants using the modified fouling index – ultrafiltration (MFI-UF) method

• Published in: Desalination Vol. 553; p. 116478
• Main Authors: Abunada, Mohanad, Dhakal, Nirajan, Gulrez, Raffay, Ajok, Pamela, Li, Yuke, Abushaban, Almotasembellah, Smit, Herman, Moed, David, Ghaffour, Noreddine, Schippers, Jan C., Kennedy, Maria D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2023
• Subjects: Membrane surface porosity correction; MFI-UF; Particle deposition factor; Particulate fouling prediction; Reverse osmosis (RO); Membrane surface porosity correction; Particulate fouling prediction; Particle deposition factor; Reverse osmosis (RO); MFI-UF
• ISSN: 0011-9164; 1873-4464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2023.116478

This study aims at applying and verifying the MFI-UF method to predict particulate fouling in RO plants. Two full-scale RO plants treating surface water, with average capacity of 800–2000 m3/h, were studied. Firstly, the MFI-UF of RO feed and concentrate was measured using 5–100 kDa membranes at same flux applied in the RO plants (20–26 L/m2.h). Subsequently, the particle disposition factor (Ω) was calculated to simulate particle deposition in RO cross-flow filtration. Finally, particulate fouling rates were predicted based on MFI-UF and Ω, and compared with the actual fouling rates in the plants. For plant A, the results showed that the fouling rates predicted using MFI-UF measured with 100 kDa membrane have the best agreement with the actual fouling (with 3–11 % deviation). For plant B, the fouling rates predicted based on both 10 and 100 kDa membranes agree well with the actual fouling (with 2 % and 15 % deviation, respectively). However, the fouling predicted based on 5 kDa membrane is considerably overestimated for both plants, which is attributed to the effect of the low surface porosity of 5 kDa membrane. More widespread applications of MFI-UF in full-scale RO plants are required to demonstrate the most suitable MFI-UF membranes for fouling prediction. •MFI-UF method was used to predict particulate fouling rate in full-scale RO plants.•10–100 kDa UF membranes can be used in MFI-UF test to predict particulate fouling.•The variation between the predicted and actual fouling rates in RO plants was <15 %.•Accuracy of fouling prediction depends highly on the flux consistency in RO plants.