METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING BIOFOULING OF MICROFILTRATION MEMBRANES

摘要

Systems and methods for reducing biofouling of microfiltration membranes that are biofouled with biological substances are disclosed. The methods include providing impound water containing biomolecule-based exopolymeric substances, reacting with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, encapsulating the exopolymeric substance into filterable non-tacky particles by reacting with an inorganic coagulant and a low molecular weight polymer, and microfiltering to remove the filterable non-tacky particles encapsulating the exopolymeric substances. The filterable non-tacky particles encapsulate the exopolymeric substances and prevent the exopolymeric substances from biofouling the microfiltration membranes.

主权项

1. A method for reducing biofouling of microfiltration membranes by a biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance, the method comprising:
providing impound water comprising a biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance; reacting the impound water with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide to generate a calcium-treated biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance mixture; encapsulating the biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance into filterable, non-tacky particles by reacting the calcium-treated biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance mixture with an aluminum-based inorganic coagulant and a low molecular weight cationic polymer; removing a first portion of the encapsulated biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance as bulk solid; and removing a second portion of the encapsulated biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance by low pressure microfiltration through a microfiltration membrane comprising a pore size of between about 0.7 to 12 microns, wherein encapsulating the biomolecule-based exopolymeric substance into filterable, non-tacky particles reduces biofouling of the microfiltration membrane.