Influence of the type of membrane-forming polymer on the membrane fouling

The effect of the membrane-forming polymer (PES, PAN and PVDF) on the fouling phenomenon has been investigated occurring on the surface of the ultrafiltration membranes used for the polishing of industrial wastewater pre-treated by biological methods. The activated sludge method in SBR reactor was used to treat dairy wastewater mixed with 10 vol. % of landfill leachate. The susceptibility assessment of polymeric membranes to the fouling phenomenon was carried out using the plate-and-frame membrane module SEPA CF-NP produced by GE Osmonics. The following properties of the membrane were determined: the dependence of the volumetric flux of the permeate on the process duration, the transport properties of deionized water, the relative permeability of the membrane for the flux of deionized water and for the wastewater flux, as well as the contact angle of the membranes. It can be concluded that the kind of membrane-forming polymer had an influence on the fouling phenomenon occurring on the ultrafiltration membranes used for the polishing of industrial wastewater treated in a SBR reactor.