FOULING OF REVERSE-OSMOSIS MEMBRANES BY ALUMINUM-OXIDE COLLOIDS

Fouling experiments of thin film composite and cellulose acetate rever se osmosis membranes by aluminum oxide colloids are reported. Membrane fouling was investigated at various solution chemistries under fixed hydrodynamic conditions. Results show that the fouling rate increases with an increase in the ionic strength of the solution. Fouling was si gnificant at high ionic strengths, including in the presence of backgr ound dissolved organic matter, resulting in a gradual decrease in prod uct water flux. Under the chemical conditions tested, colloidal foulin g was found to be reversible, thus indicating that pore blockage is no t an important factor in colloidal fouling of reverse osmosis membrane s. The role of chemical-colloidal interactions in colloidal fouling of reverse osmosis membranes is elucidated. Fouling is controlled by par ticle-membrane and particle-retained particle interactions, which, in turn, are determined by solution chemistry, chemical properties of col loids and membranes, and the magnitude of permeation drag.