Nuclear magnetic resonance microscopy studies of membrane biofouling |
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Authors: | D.A. Graf von der Schulenburg J.S. Vrouwenvelder S.A. Creber M.C.M. van Loosdrecht M.L. Johns |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK;2. Wetsus, Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Agora 1, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands;3. Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | There is a substantial need for novel measurement techniques that enable non-invasive spatially resolved observation of biofouling in nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane modules. Such measurements will enhance our understanding of the key design and operational parameters influencing biofilm fouling. In this study we demonstrate the first application of nuclear magnetic resonance microscopy (NMR) to a spiral wound reverse osmosis (RO) membrane module. The presented NMR protocols allow the extraction of the evolution with biofouling of (i) the spatial biofilm distribution in the membrane module, (ii) the spatially resolved velocity field and (iii) displacement propagators, which are distributions of molecular displacement of a passive tracer (in our case, water) in the membrane. From these measurements, the effective membrane surface area is quantified. Despite the opaque nature of membrane design, NMR microscopy is shown to be able to provide a non-invasive quantitative measurement of RO membrane biofouling and its impact on hydrodynamics and mass transport. Minimal biofilm growth is observed to have a substantial impact on flow field homogeneity. |
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Keywords: | Spiral wound membrane Reverse osmosis Nanofiltration Biofouling NMR |
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