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Kumaran, Varshaa

University of British Columbia

Gravity-driven membrane filtration (GDMF) is a process in which hydrostatic pressure (gravity) serves as the driving force to maintain water flow through the membrane. Limited fouling control measures are applied, resulting in the formation of a biofilm layer on the membrane surface. This porous layer hosts a stable microbial community, crucial for sustaining water output. GDMF systems are simple to operate and cost-effective, making them well-suited for small-scale applications. Typically, the biofilm layer in GDMF systems enhances the removal of various contaminants, including organics and viruses. At the same time, the presence of the biofilm layer increases the resistance of to water flow, decreasing overall throughput. To increase the overall throughput, passive (gravity-driven) fouling controls, such as air scouring, and tank drain can be applied to GDMF systems. However, limited knowledge exists on the efficacy of these techniques. This present study addresses critical knowledge gaps in the literature regarding the effects of the passive fouling controls in gravity-driven membrane filtration systems; referred to as passive gravity-driven membrane filtration (PGDMF). The results of the study demonstrate that passive fouling controls significantly contribute to increased overall throughput. The study also concludes that passive fouling controls did not impact the chemical and biological properties of the biofilm layer developed on the membrane surface. The study also concludes that, after it is established at 1-2 weeks, the microbial community present on the biofilm layer is not similar to the microbial community present in the feed or reject of the PGDMF system.

Text

2024-01-19

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87324

Civil Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/