Iron oxide adsorption and UF to remove NOM and control fouling

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Abstract
Addition of iron oxide particles to a UF system can significantly increase NOM removal efficiency, slowing membrane fouling.This study applied a novel single‐fiber membrane module to study fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes by natural organic matter (NOM) molecules, and used a combined iron oxide–UF process to reduce that fouling. Addition of iron oxide particles to a UF system can significantly increase NOM removal efficiency, because NOM molecules that would otherwise pass through the membrane sorb to the oxides and are retained. Furthermore, despite the fact that iron oxide particles cannot selectively adsorb foulant molecules, their presence in the system can reduce the membrane fouling dramatically. This effect is mediated through two processes: a decrease in the NOM concentration in the circulation loop because of sorption and the formation of iron oxide cake layer deposits on the membrane surface. In such a system, the condensed layer of NOM forms on top of the cake, protecting the underlying membrane surface.