Analysis of Membrane and Cake Layer Resistances in Coagulation: Constant Flux Dead-End Microfiltration of NOM

Fouling analysis of tank coagulation (TC)/inline coagulation (IC) followed by dead-end microfiltration (MF) treating natural organic matter (NOM) was assessed using the blocking laws and resistance-in-series models. Different process conditions were found to have no significance on the overall treatment efficiency but did contribute to aspects of membrane operation, that is, membrane fouling. Blocking laws were found to be inadequate in explaining the fouling phenomenon, but may provide insight to the intrinsic membrane resistance behavior. The resistance-in-series model showed that cake compressibility was different in each process configuration tested and may therefore assist in determining the most suitable operating conditions. Floc properties resulting from TC and IC were different, impacting the cake compressibility behavior observed, which further could explain the differences in trans membrane pressure (TMP) increase and reversibility of membrane fouling.