{"id":{"repo_id":"rice","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/61950"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/rice/oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/61950","repository":{"repo_id":"rice","name":"Rice University","base_url":"https://repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A mechanistic study on the coupled organic and colloidal fouling of nanofiltration membranes","abstract":"The more wide-spread use of nanofiltration membranes in industrial applications is dependent upon understanding the fouling behavior of representative feed solutions, such as complex suspensions with both organic and colloidal inorganic foulants. In this thesis, three hypothesized mechanisms responsible for enhanced membrane flux decline in the presence of multiple foulant types are examined experimentally: increased hydraulic resistance of the mixed cake layer structure, hindered foulant diffusion due to interactions between solute concentration polarization (CP) layers, and changes in colloid surface properties due to organic adsorption. Additionally, a modified composite cell-model is developed to incorporate the structural differences of a merged, combined fouling layer. Results, including a synergistic effect caused by increased resistance of a heterogeneous fouling layer as well as the adsorption effects of interacting foulants, indicate that current fouling layer models need to be reexamined to include the mechanisms suggested in this study.","abstract_html":"The more wide-spread use of nanofiltration membranes in industrial applications is dependent upon understanding the fouling behavior of representative feed solutions, such as complex suspensions with both organic and colloidal inorganic foulants. In this thesis, three hypothesized mechanisms responsible for enhanced membrane flux decline in the presence of multiple foulant types are examined experimentally: increased hydraulic resistance of the mixed cake layer structure, hindered foulant diffusion due to interactions between solute concentration polarization (CP) layers, and changes in colloid surface properties due to organic adsorption. Additionally, a modified composite cell-model is developed to incorporate the structural differences of a merged, combined fouling layer. Results, including a synergistic effect caused by increased resistance of a heterogeneous fouling layer as well as the adsorption effects of interacting foulants, indicate that current fouling layer models need to be reexamined to include the mechanisms suggested in this study.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Harris, Alison Eleanore"],"institution":"Rice University","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009","date_published":"2009","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:28Z","subjects":["Environmental engineering"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1911/61950","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Harris, Alison Eleanore"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2011-07-25T01:39:49Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2011-07-25T01:39:49Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2009"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Rice University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Environmental engineering"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1911/61950"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The more wide-spread use of nanofiltration membranes in industrial applications is dependent upon understanding the fouling behavior of representative feed solutions, such as complex suspensions with both organic and colloidal inorganic foulants. In this thesis, three hypothesized mechanisms responsible for enhanced membrane flux decline in the presence of multiple foulant types are examined experimentally: increased hydraulic resistance of the mixed cake layer structure, hindered foulant diffusion due to interactions between solute concentration polarization (CP) layers, and changes in colloid surface properties due to organic adsorption. Additionally, a modified composite cell-model is developed to incorporate the structural differences of a merged, combined fouling layer. Results, including a synergistic effect caused by increased resistance of a heterogeneous fouling layer as well as the adsorption effects of interacting foulants, indicate that current fouling layer models need to be reexamined to include the mechanisms suggested in this study."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A mechanistic study on the coupled organic and colloidal fouling of nanofiltration membranes"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Harris, Alison Eleanore"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2011-07-25T01:39:49Z"],"dc:date.available":["2011-07-25T01:39:49Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2009"],"dc:description.abstract":["The more wide-spread use of nanofiltration membranes in industrial applications is dependent upon understanding the fouling behavior of representative feed solutions, such as complex suspensions with both organic and colloidal inorganic foulants. In this thesis, three hypothesized mechanisms responsible for enhanced membrane flux decline in the presence of multiple foulant types are examined experimentally: increased hydraulic resistance of the mixed cake layer structure, hindered foulant diffusion due to interactions between solute concentration polarization (CP) layers, and changes in colloid surface properties due to organic adsorption. Additionally, a modified composite cell-model is developed to incorporate the structural differences of a merged, combined fouling layer. Results, including a synergistic effect caused by increased resistance of a heterogeneous fouling layer as well as the adsorption effects of interacting foulants, indicate that current fouling layer models need to be reexamined to include the mechanisms suggested in this study."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1911/61950"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."],"dc:subject":["Environmental engineering"],"dc:title":["A mechanistic study on the coupled organic and colloidal fouling of nanofiltration membranes"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Rice University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:28Z"}