The cross-flow microfiltration (MF) of brining wastewater was conducted aft
er chemical pretreatment with the goal of reusing the treated wastewater. T
he effect of membrane support material on permeability was investigated in
terms of flux decline and recovery with permeate or acid back-washing. Duri
ng the MF of pretreated brining wastewater, there was little flux improveme
nt for the Zr/C membrane as a result of back-washing, although the back-was
hing for the other types of polymeric and ceramic membranes used always enh
anced the recovery of the permeate flux. The significance of membrane fouli
ng for the Zr/C membrane was demonstrated via an evaluation of the hydrauli
c resistances after MF with back-washing, suggesting that membrane fouling
was greatly dependent on the support material as well as the skin material.
The carbon support of the Zr/C membrane played an important role in nullif
ying the effectiveness of backwashing because the carbon support was able t
o sorb organic matter during MF with back-washing, resulting in an increase
in irreversible membrane fouling. From these findings, it is clear that th
e membrane support material must be taken into account in elucidating the b
ehavior of membrane fouling and the flux recovery by back-washing during MF
.