Novel ultrafiltration membrane fouling control method with in-situ filter aid of perlite particles

摘要

Perlite particles were used as filter aid and added directly into the feed solution. A loose filter aid layer was formed on the membrane surface during ultrafiltration (UF) process. The layer could prevent contaminant from adhering onto membrane surface directly. The filter aid layer could be easily removed from membrane surface by oscillation of the membrane module and the membrane could be regenerated as a result. The effects of the size and dosage of perlite particles and UF operating conditions (including the transmembrane pressure and feed velocity) on the performance of the process were studied. The results showed that the addition of perlite particles could reduce the filtration resistance and the particles with the size of 100-150m could cause more resistance reduction than the smaller ones. When operated at 0.075MPa with a feed velocity of 0.055m/s, the filter aid efficiency and flux increase were balanced. The J/J(0) increased 7% and the flux recovery rate enhanced 25% compared with UF process without perlite.