Mechanisms of MS2 bacteriophage removal by ultrafiltration membrane with different foulants

An ultrafiltration unit with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane of 40 nm nominal pore size was used to study bacteriophage MS2 removal under different membrane conditions. The membrane conditions were subject to fouling of soluble microbial products (SMP), which was extracted from membrane bio-reactor (MBR) feed water, and cleaning methods including backwashing and chemical cleaning. The membrane conditions tested were pristine membrane, membrane fouled by SMP, backwashed membrane, and chemically cleaned membrane. The order of MS2 removal by these membranes was: fouled membrane > backwashed membrane > chemically cleaned membrane ≈ pristine membrane. A linear correlation between membrane relative permeability and MS2 removal was found. MS2 mass balance analysis for the ultrafiltration unit showed a higher percentage of MS2 in the concentrate for the fouled membrane compared to that for the pristine membrane. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) results showed faster kinetics of MS2 adhesion to the pristine membrane compared to the SMP-fouled membrane. In agreement with QCM results, an attractive force between MS2 and the pristine membrane was detected using an atomic force microscope (AFM), while a repulsive force was detected for the interaction between MS2 and the fouled membrane. The presence of SMP on the membrane surface led to higher rejection of MS2 due to both pore blocking and repulsion between MS2 and the SMP layer. Chemical cleaning removed most of the SMP foulant and as a result led to a lower MS2 removal.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environ Engr in Civil Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Lu, Ruiqing

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nguyen, Thanh H.

• Ultrafiltration
• MS2
• backwash
• chemical cleaning

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2013 Ruiqing Lu

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45534

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/45534