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<p>Ensuring the operational longevity of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is crucial for the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of water treatment processes. Fouled RO membrane samples, exhibiting a 17–35% decline of normalized permeate flow, and a 20–300% increase in differential pressure, were collected from various plants with diverse fed water compositions and operating conditions. Therefore, herein a systematic multi-analytical autopsy approach was adopted to examine the fouling profiles and performance decline mechanisms of RO membranes at their end-of-life stage, aiming at identifying appropriate mitigation strategies for enhancing their lifespan and performance characteristics. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDS) analysis revealed that proteins, polysaccharides, and scales of silicon, iron, and aluminum were present in the fouling layers. The composition of these foulants varied depending mainly on the membrane application, feed water characteristics and pretreatment steps. FESEM images reflected distinct morphological patterns based on the foulants’ nature, where colloidal particles caused abrasion on the membrane surface. Organic fouling, on the other hand, had a less pronounced impact on membrane lifetime. Heavily fouled layers caused various stress factors, resulting in irreversible physical damage, especially in the case of mineral scales. Based on these findings, the fouling layers’ formation process was revealed and general and specific lifetime extension strategies of RO membranes for various water treatment processes were proposed. This comprehensive autopsy-based approach provides valuable insights into the root causes of RO membranes performance decline mechanisms, enabling the development of more effective mitigation and management strategies to ensure the long-term operational sustainability of water treatment systems.</p>

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Characterization of Fouling Layers and Their Impact on RO Membrane Performance Degradation in Diverse Water Treatment Applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月2日

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  • Manal A. Almalki,
  • Ashraf A. Mohamed,
  • Safwat A. Mahmoud,
  • Hoda A. Ahmed,
  • Arafat Toghan,
  • Mahmoud A. Ahmed

摘要

Ensuring the operational longevity of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is crucial for the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of water treatment processes. Fouled RO membrane samples, exhibiting a 17–35% decline of normalized permeate flow, and a 20–300% increase in differential pressure, were collected from various plants with diverse fed water compositions and operating conditions. Therefore, herein a systematic multi-analytical autopsy approach was adopted to examine the fouling profiles and performance decline mechanisms of RO membranes at their end-of-life stage, aiming at identifying appropriate mitigation strategies for enhancing their lifespan and performance characteristics. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDS) analysis revealed that proteins, polysaccharides, and scales of silicon, iron, and aluminum were present in the fouling layers. The composition of these foulants varied depending mainly on the membrane application, feed water characteristics and pretreatment steps. FESEM images reflected distinct morphological patterns based on the foulants’ nature, where colloidal particles caused abrasion on the membrane surface. Organic fouling, on the other hand, had a less pronounced impact on membrane lifetime. Heavily fouled layers caused various stress factors, resulting in irreversible physical damage, especially in the case of mineral scales. Based on these findings, the fouling layers’ formation process was revealed and general and specific lifetime extension strategies of RO membranes for various water treatment processes were proposed. This comprehensive autopsy-based approach provides valuable insights into the root causes of RO membranes performance decline mechanisms, enabling the development of more effective mitigation and management strategies to ensure the long-term operational sustainability of water treatment systems.