3D printed spacers for organic fouling mitigation in membrane distillation

Publication date: Available online 20 March 2019Source: Journal of Membrane ScienceAuthor(s): Erik Hugo Cabrera Castillo, Navya Thomas, Oraib Al-Ketan, Reza Rowshan, Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub, Seongchul Ryu, Duc Long Nghiem, Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran, Hassan A. Arafat, Gayathri NaiduAbstract3D printing offers the flexibility to achieve favourable spacer geometrical modification. The role of 3D printed spacers for organic fouling mitigation in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is evaluated. Compared to a commercial spacer, the design of 3D printed triply periodic minimal surfaces spacers (Gyroid and tCLP) - varying filament thickness and smaller hydraulic diameter enhanced DCMD fluxes by 50-65%. The highest DCMD flux was obtained with the 3D tCLP spacer due to its specific geometrical design feature. However, its design characteristics resulted in higher channel pressure drop compared to 3D Gyroid spacer. Moreover, 3D Gyroid spacer exhibited superior fouling mitigation (lower membrane organic mass deposition and reversible membrane hydrophobicity with humic acid solution), attributed to its tortuous design that repelled foulants. 3D Gyroid spacer was effective in achieving high water recovery (85%) while maintaining good quality distillate (10–15 μS/cm, 99% ion rejection) in DCMD with wastewater concentrate that contained high organics, mixed with inorganics. In MD, high organic contents minimally affected MD fluxes but reduced membrane hydrophobicity. Repeated DCMD ...
Source: Journal of Membrane Science - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research