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- Title
Magnetic resonance imaging and 3D simulation studies of biofilm accumulation and cleaning on reverse osmosis membranes.
- Authors
Creber, S. A.; Pintelon, T. R. R.; Graf von der Schulenburg, D. A. W.; Vrouwenvelder, J. S.; van Loosdrecht, M. C. M.; Johns, M. L.
- Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the multiple pressure-driven membrane separation processes used primarily for the production of high purity water for various industries, including food processing. Biofllm growth in the spiral- wound membrane module, commonly referred to as biofouling, reduces the efficiency to produce water. Biofilm accumulation and removal using chemical cleaning on RO membranes were studied using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Additionally, a previously validated biofllm simulation model, which is based on a lattice Boltzmann platform, was modified to account for cleaning operations. The spatial and velocity MRI experimental results captured biofllm distribution and water flow within the fouled membrane modules and subsequent changes in the biofllm distribution and water flow due to cleaning. Cleaning was simulated by accounting for reductions in the biofllm cohesive strength in the numerical model. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons between the experimental and simulated images showed good agreement.
- Subjects
MAGNETIC resonance imaging; FOULING; SURFACE preparation; COATING processes; FOOD industry
- Publication
Food & Bioproducts Processing: Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers Part C, 2010, Vol 88, Issue 4, p401
- ISSN
0960-3085
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1016/j.fbp.2010.08.010