Chemical Cleaning Techniques for Fouled RO Membranes: Enhancing Fouling Removal and Assessing Microbial Composition.

ABSTRACT: Membrane fouling, a major challenge in desalination, is addressed in this study by investigating three different chemical cleaning protocols (A, B, and C) targeting fouled reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and microbial community composition. Cleaning protocols A and B involve different chemical treatments selected based on preliminary tests and literature review, while protocol C follows the manufacturer's standard recommendation. Membrane morphology, foulant composition, and microbial community variability in fouled, virgin, and cleaned membranes are studied. Effective biofilm removal is observed across all protocols using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while spectroscopic techniques highlight interactions between foulants and membranes. Importantly, a critical gap in understanding how

SUBMITTER: Al-Balushi MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11509379 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature