Prepration of patterned membrane and its application to membrane process for water and wastewater treatment

Abstract

Recently, patterned membrane has proven its potential as an innovative approach to control membrane fouling in the diverse membrane process for production of high quality water. However, preparation steps for diverse patterned membranes are not yet to be established and antifouling mechanism of patterned membrane still remained a black box. In this study, with an aid of soft-lithographic method, a modified preparation step for diverse patterns was developed and antifouling mechanism of patterned membrane in membrane process was discussed. Firstly, we designed a new preparation step for the patterned membrane. During the preparation steps, a conventional phase inversion method was converged with a soft-lithographic method, which was applicable to diverse types of pattern. The modified phase inversion method for the patterned membrane could relieve successfully the problem of the reversed pore structures of a conventional method. The relations between preparation parameters and pattern fidelity were estimated. Secondly, characterization of the patterned membrane was carried out. The pore size distribution and membrane structures of patterned membrane prepared by modified phase inversion method were investigated. After that, the patterned membranes were applied to lab-scale MBR system and the anti-fouling ability of patterned membrane was evaluated. Lastly, the diverse shape and size of prism-pattern were tested to indentify the antifouling mechanism of the patterned membrane. We developed diverse patterns such as interval prism pattern and have investigated deposition of latex particle in response to change of Reynolds number or particle diameter. Comparing the mass of attached particle on diverse prism pattern with non-patterned case, the parameters affecting antifouling ability of patterned membrane were investigated.