• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.355-362
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• 2021

This study investigated the fate of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a water reclamation facility (WRF) in Korea. The WRF consists of coagulation, sedimentation, microfiltration, and reverse osmosis (RO) components. The production capacity of WRF is 90,000 m³/day. The reclaimed water is reused as industrial water. We also characterized DOM in raw, processed, and finished waters based on analysis of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UVA₂₅₄), fluorescence excitation emission matrix (FEEM), and DOC fractions via liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection (LC-OCD). Based on the results of DOC, UVA₂₅₄, and FEEM analyses, neither the coagulation/sedimentation nor the microfiltration at the WRF effectively removed DOM. The RO process removed more than 94% of DOM. The raw water (i.e., secondary treated effluent obtained from a wastewater treatment plant) exhibited tryptophan-like peaks, which are a promising marker of wastewater, in the FEEM analysis. Coagulation and microfiltration failed to eliminate the wastewater marker, whereas RO completely removed it. The raw water also carried high levels (89.4%) of hydrophilic and low-molecular weight substances, which are difficult to remove via coagulation-sedimentation or microfiltration. Humic substance was a major component of the hydrophilic fractions. Based on the LC-OCD analysis, RO effectively removed the humic and polymeric materials from DOM.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.256-267
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• 2015

The goal is to compare two different aeration strategies for a pilot scale operation of submerged microfiltration with respect to the minimization of membrane fouling. A constant aeration (65 L/min) was examined parallel with a step-wise increase in airflow rate (40 to 65 L/min). The airflow rate was stepped to a higher rate every 5 min and the step-aeration cycles were repeated at regular intervals of 15 min. The comparative filtration runs were conducted with synthetic water containing powdered activated carbon (~10 g/L) and/or kaolin (~20 g/L) at a constant flux of 80 LMH. The extent and mechanisms of fouling in the microfiltration were identified by determining hydraulic resistance to filtration and the fouling reversibility after cleaning. Results showed that the step-aeration effectively alleviated fouling in the microfiltration of synthetic water compared to when using constant aeration. A substantial decrease in fouling was achieved by combining with coagulation using aluminum salts regardless of the aeration strategies. The constant aeration resulted in increased pore blocking likely due to increased accumulation of particles on the surface of membrane.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2000

In the process of crossflow microfiltration, a deposit of cake layer tends to form on the membrane, which usually controls the performance of filtration. It is found, however, that there exist a condition under which no deposit of cake layer is made. This condition is called the sub-critical flux condition, and the critical flux here means a flux below which a decline of flux with time due to the deposit of cake layer does not occur. In order to study the characteristics of the critical flux, a numerical model is developed to predict the critical flux condition, and is verified with experimental results. For development of the model, the concept of effective particle diameter is introduced to find a representative size of various particles in relation to diffusive properties of particles. The model is found to be in good match with the experimental results. The findings from the use of the model include that the critical flux condition is determined by the effective particle diameter and the ratio of initial permeate flux to crossflow velocity.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2000

In Kimchi (a salt-pickled and fermented food) manufacturing industry, the process of brining and rinsing the raw vegetable produces a vast amount of wastewater of high salinity. Instead of expensive and low-efficient conventional treatment system, brining wastewater reuse system was developed using hybrid chemical precipitation/microfiltration. In the microfiltration of chemically treated brining wastewater, comparison of flux, backwashing frequency and energy consumption was made between dead-end and crossflow filtration mode. The optimum location of neutralization step in this system was also discussed in connection with the microfiltration performance. The quality test of Kimchi prepared by the reuse system confirmed the new approach was successful in terms of water/raw material(salt) saving and wastewater reduction.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.13-21
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• 2008

With the rise in membrane applications, residuals management has become a growing challenge for membrane system. The primary residuals of MF/UF (microfiltration/ultrafiltration) system results from the wastes generated during backwashing. Many regulatory agencies, utilities, and water process engineers are unfamiliar with the characteristics and methods for treatment and disposal of membrane residuals. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the backwash residuals water quality from the pressurized system with and without pre-coagulation, and to suggest approaches for the backwash residuals treatment. Pressurized MF system was installed at Guui water intake pumping station and operated with raw water taken from the Han River. We compared performances with and without the recycling backwash residuals at flux conditions, 50 LMH and 90 LMH with and without pre-treatment (coagulation). Based on the results, recycling of backwash residuals in pressurized system with pre-coagulation showed applicability of backwash residuals managements. Moreover, the recovery rate also increased up to over 99%.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.205-212
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• 2020

This short review focuses on fouling by proteins and macromolecules in microfiltration/ultrafiltration. First, an experimental system that enables investigation of how the extent of the adsorption of proteins and macromolecules on membrane surfaces contributes to a decrease in filtrate flux in microfiltration/ultrafiltration is described. Using this system, a causal relationship - not a correlation - indicating that adsorption results in a decrease in filtrate flux could be clearly demonstrated in some cases. Second, a hydration structure at the membrane surface that can suppress adsorption is discussed, inspired by biomaterial research. In their hydrated states, polymers with low-fouling properties have water molecules with a particular structure. Finally, some successful examples of the development of low-fouling membranes via surface modification using low-fouling polymers are discussed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2013

Effect of water back-flushing period (FT) was investigated in hybrid water treatment process of carbon ultrafiltration and polypropylene (PP) beads coated with photocatalyst, and membrane effect was studied by comparing the previous studies with carbon microfiltration or alumina ultrafiltration, microfiltration membranes. FT 6 min was the most effective to control initial membrane fouling and optimal condition because the membrane fouling resistance was low until initial 60 min and the maximum total permeate volume was acquired at this FT. The turbidity treatment efficiency was high beyond 98.6%, and did not depend on FT, which was same with the previous result of carbon or alumina microfiltration. The organic matters treatment efficiency was the highest value of 98.2% at FT 6 min, which was almost same trend with the previous result of alumina microfiltration. Then the organic matters treatment efficiency of carbon microfiltration was the minimum at no back-flushing (NBF) and increased as decreasing FT, but that of alumina ultrafiltration was the maximum at NBF and also increased as decreasing FT. Therefore it means that water back-flushing effect on the organic matters treatment efficiency had a different mechanism depending on pore size in spite of the same material membranes.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2001

Distillation condensate generated from downstream processing of microbial alcohol fermentation imposes a serious burden to biological wastewater treatment or anaerobic digestion due to its high contents of SS (suspended solids) and TN (total nitrogen), A pilot scale microfiltration of the stillage condensate with a stainless steel SCEPTER membrane of 0.1 ${\mu}$m pore size was carried out to remove SS which was mostly composed of microbial cell residue. A stable permeate flux was achieved when the decanter effluent containing 0.7% of SS was filtered under the conditions of X10 VCR (volume concentration ratio), 2.5 bar of TMP (transmembrane pressure), and 60$^{\circ}C$. When stillage condensate with 2.6% SS was treated directly with microfiltration, VCR below X3 was recommended for a long duration of filtration. The permeate and retentate obtained from microfiltration were recycled to make-up medium of fermentation. Adding permeate or retentate up to 30% of fermentation volume showed no distinguished undesirable influence during the course of alcohol fermentation. Although only slight improvements in the final amount of CO$_2$ evolution and alcohol content were observed, fermentation rate increased so that the required time to reach 450 L/ton of CO$_2$ evolution was shortened to 72% of that with normal media.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1997

An experimental research was conducted in order to study the treatment of waste reuse system using the membrane. Cell tester which supplied by Amicon was used to compare the fluxes of various membranes. Specially investigated items in the experiment were carried out by using 5 species of microfiltration membranes as to various MLSS concentrations. From the results, it is recognized from the cell test that 0.2 $\mu $m pore-sized membrane have the most effective performance at 2000mg/L of MLSS, and physical properties of membranes such as strength, deflection, elongation, structure of pore are more important than chemical properties in microfiltration membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.273-283
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• 2017

Polysulfone (PSF) is one of an important polymer that has been widely used in the manufacture of asymmetric microfiltration (MF) membranes. PSF membrane is considered as hydrophobic membrane that easily fouled during membrane operation process. The blending method is an effective method for improving the fouling resistance of PSF membranes. sPES (sulfonated polyethersulfone) is one of the useful polymers that can be used in PSF polymer blend method to improve hydrophilicity of PSF membranes. In this study, microfiltration polymer membranes were prepared by using PSF/sPES/PVP/BE/DMF casting solution and water coagulant. The morphology of MF membranes was changed by addition of a small amount of sPES in casting solution. The morphology of the sPES added membranes was changed into a highly asymmetric structure. The active layer grew and mean pore size was decreased by addition of sPES. However, the water flux of PSF/sPES/DMF/PVP/BE membrane was higher than that of PSF/DMF/PVP/BE membrane.