Performance evaluation of ultrafiltration hollow fiber membranes, modified with inorganic additives, in a submerged membrane bioreactor

Abstract

Due to the deterioration of aquatic environments used for public water supply and the consequent problem of water scarcity in Brazil, great efforts have been applied in the development of more advanced, reliable, economical and effective technologies for wastewater treatment. In this context, the objective of the present research project is the production of modified ultrafiltration hollow fiber polymeric membranes with high performance, through the addition of inorganic nanomaterials, for effluents treatment. For that, experiments will be conducted in order to determine the optimal conditions for membrane synthesis using the phase inversion process. In order to prevent the membrane fouling and increase membrane permeability, clay nanoparticles, aluminum oxide or silicon dioxide will be used along with different polymers (Polysulfone, Polyethersulfone or Polyvinylidene fluoride) for the preparation of polymeric solutions. The synthesized membranes will be subjected to specific tests to evaluate their morphology and physicochemical properties. Subsequently, the produced membranes performance will be evaluated for permeability, flow loss and rejection during the treatment of synthetic and natural solutions. The membrane which the compositions result in better performance will be used for assembling a bioreactor with submerged membranes on a pre-pilot scale. In this stage, long-term tests with domestic sewage will be carried out in order to consolidate the knowledge obtained during the project, aiming at full-scale applications of membrane separation technology. (AU)