Reducing Treatment Costs of Alternative Waters with Antifouling Ion-Exchange Membranes

Published Date:
May 2020

Authors:
Pei Xu, Huiyao Wang, Xuesong Xu, Guanyu Ma, Million Tesfai

Abstract:
Fouling of ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) hinders electrodialysis (ED) for water/wastewater treatment because it affects membrane performance, increases energy consumption, and shortens membrane life. This study aims to modify commercially available IEMs by surface coating polymers in combination with TiO2 nanoparticles or graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to enhance fouling resistance of the IEMs. Membrane modification significantly improved biofouling resistance, enhanced desalting efficiency, permselectivity of monovalent ions over divalent ions, and reduced energy consumption of ED process compared to that using unmodified membranes.

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Keywords:
Electrodialysis, antifouling, ion-exchange membrane, desalination, membrane modification