Laboratory Efficacy of Locally Available Backwashing Methods at Removing Fouling in Hollow-Fiber Membrane Filters Used for Household Water Treatment.
| Title: | Laboratory Efficacy of Locally Available Backwashing Methods at Removing Fouling in Hollow-Fiber Membrane Filters Used for Household Water Treatment. |
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| Authors: | Heylen C; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; Oliveira Aguiar A; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; String G; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; Domini M; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; Goff N; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; Murray A; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; Asatekin A; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.; Lantagne D; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA. |
| Source: | Membranes [Membranes (Basel)] 2021 May 20; Vol. 11 (5). Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 May 20. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: MDPI Publishing Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101577807 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 2077-0375 (Print) Linking ISSN: 20770375 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Membranes (Basel) Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Basel, Switzerland : MDPI Publishing |
| Abstract: | Hollow-fiber membrane filters (HFMFs) for household water treatment (HWT) can efficaciously remove disease-causing organisms in laboratory settings. However, lower effectiveness in use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and humanitarian contexts (HCs) has been observed and attributed to membrane fouling and the associated cleaning. In LMICs/HCs, it is not possible to prevent and control fouling using commonly known methods (e.g., testing influent water, maintenance regimes), and the literature on fouling/cleaning of HFMFs distributed in LMICs is scarce. As such, controlled laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of locally available (in LMICs/HCs) backwashing solutions at removing fouling using different influent waters and HFMF types. Four commonly distributed HFMFs were selected; fouling layers were developed by filtering three influent water compositions, representing LMIC/HC waters, for 10-days, and bleach, water, or vinegar backwashing solutions were used for daily backwashing. Filter performance indicators included: fiber mechanical properties (strain at break, break force), water quantity performance (flow), water quality performance (turbidity, E. coli), and imaging. The study found fouling developed rapidly and altered mechanical properties and water quantity indicators within 200 h of filtration. Fouling did not decrease water quality indicators. Backwashing improved the filter's mechanical properties and water quantity performance, but it did not fully recover the initial performance. Additionally, recovery differed between backwashing solutions, and no universal cleaning recommendation appropriate for HFMFs in LMICs/HCs was identified. Overall, fouling development and control depended on HFMF type, influent water quality, and backwashing solution type; thus, caution before distributing HFMFs for long-term use in LMICs/HCs is recommended. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: backwashing; fouling; household water treatment; humanitarian response; membrane filters |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20210602 Latest Revision: 20240811 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC8161404 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/membranes11050375 |
| PMID: | 34065587 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article