Calcium Sulfate and Calcium Carbonate Scaling of Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes with Surface-Tethered Polyacrylic Acid Chains

Chen, Yian; Cohen, Yoram

doi:10.3390/membranes12121287

Calcium Sulfate and Calcium Carbonate Scaling of Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes with Surface-Tethered Polyacrylic Acid Chains

Journal Article · Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Membranes

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12121287· OSTI ID:2471209

^[1]; ^[2]

University of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
University of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

The gypsum and calcite scaling propensities of the thin-film composite polyamide (PA-TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, modified with a tethered surface layer of polyacrylic acid (PAA) chains, was evaluated and compared to the scaling of selected commercial RO membranes. The tethered PAA layer was synthesized onto a commercial polyamide membrane (i.e., base-PA) via atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization (APPIGP). The PAA nano-structured (SNS) base-PA membrane (SNS-PAA-PA) was scaled to a lesser degree, as quantified by a lower permeate flux decline and surface imaging, relative to the tested commercial membranes (Dow SW30, Toray SWRO, and BWRO). The cleaning of gypsum-scaled membranes with D.I. water flushing achieved 100% water permeability recovery for both the SNS-PAA-PA and Dow SW30 membranes, relative to 92–98% permeability restoration for the Toray membranes. The calcium carbonate scaling of SNS-PAA-PA membranes was also lower relative to the commercial membranes, but permeability recovery after D.I. water cleaning was somewhat lower (94%) but consistent with the level of surface scale coverage. In contrast, the calcite and gypsum-scaled membrane areas of the commercial membranes post-cleaning were significantly higher than for the SNS-PAA-PA membrane but with 100% permeability recovery, suggesting the potential for membrane damage when mineral scaling is severe.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: California Department of Water Resources; U.S. Army; USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2471209

Journal Information:: Membranes, Journal Name: Membranes Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 12; ISSN 2077-0375

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (61)

Modification of Carbohydrate Polymers via Grafting in Air. 1. Ceric-Induced Synthesis of Starch-g-Polyacrylonitrile in Presence and Absence of Oxygen Pourjavadi, Ali; Zohuriaan-Mehr, Mohammad J. Starch - Stärke, Vol. 54, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-379X(200204)54:3/4<140::AID-STAR140>3.0.CO;2-I	journal	April 2002
Calcium Carbonate Saturation Index and Alkalinity Interpretations Larson, T. E.; Buswell, A. M. Journal AWWA, Vol. 34, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1551-8833.1942.tb17295.x	journal	November 1942
Calcium sulphate fouling of reverse osmosis membranes: Flux decline mechanism Gilron, J.; Hasson, D. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 42, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(87)80109-4	journal	January 1987
The effect of protein fouling in microfiltration and ultrafiltration on permeate flux, protein retention and selectivity: A literature review Marshall, A. D.; Munro, P. A.; Trägårdh, G. Desalination, Vol. 91, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-9164(93)80047-Q	journal	March 1993
Kinetics and thermodynamics of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate at salinities up to 1.5 M Sheikholeslami, R.; Ong, H. W. K. Desalination, Vol. 157, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0011-9164(03)00401-6	journal	August 2003
Effect of operating conditions on CaSO4 scale formation mechanism in nanofiltration for water softening Lee, S. Water Research, Vol. 34, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00142-1	journal	October 2000
The effect of ph and ionic environment on the ultrafiltration of protein solutions with retentive membranes Fane, A. G.; Fell, C. J. D.; Suki, A. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 16 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-7388(00)81310-1	journal	January 1983
Calcium sulfate (gypsum) scaling in nanofiltration of agricultural drainage water Le Gouellec, Y. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 205, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-7388(02)00128-X	journal	August 2002
Responsive membranes for advanced separations Darvishmanesh, Siavash; Qian, Xianghong; Wickramasinghe, S. Ranil Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, Vol. 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coche.2015.04.002	journal	May 2015
Feasibility of reverse osmosis desalination of brackish agricultural drainage water in the San Joaquin Valley McCool, Brian C.; Rahardianto, Anditya; Faria, Jose Desalination, Vol. 261, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2010.05.031	journal	October 2010
Reverse osmosis technology for water treatment: State of the art review Malaeb, Lilian; Ayoub, George M. Desalination, Vol. 267, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2010.09.001	journal	February 2011
Brackish water desalination by a hybrid forward osmosis–nanofiltration system using divalent draw solute Zhao, Shuaifei; Zou, Linda; Mulcahy, Dennis Desalination, Vol. 284 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2011.08.053	journal	January 2012
Scaling and fouling in membrane distillation for desalination applications: A review Warsinger, David M.; Swaminathan, Jaichander; Guillen-Burrieza, Elena Desalination, Vol. 356 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2014.06.031	journal	January 2015
Gypsum scaling and membrane integrity of osmotically driven membranes: The effect of membrane materials and operating conditions Wang, Yi-Ning; Järvelä, Eliisa; Wei, Jing Desalination, Vol. 377 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2015.08.024	journal	January 2016
Enhancement of surface properties and performance of reverse osmosis membranes after surface modification: A review Asadollahi, Mahdieh; Bastani, Dariush; Musavi, Seyyed Abbas Desalination, Vol. 420 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.05.027	journal	October 2017
Investigating the development and reproducibility of heterogeneous gypsum scaling on reverse osmosis membranes using real-time membrane surface imaging Benecke, Jan; Haas, Moritz; Baur, Fabian Desalination, Vol. 428 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.11.025	journal	February 2018
Scaling of reverse osmosis membranes used in water desalination: Phenomena, impact, and control; future directions Matin, Asif; Rahman, Faizur; Shafi, Hafiz Zahid Desalination, Vol. 455 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.12.009	journal	April 2019
Scale up of polyamide reverse osmosis membranes surface modification with tethered poly(acrylic acid) for fabrication of low fouling spiral-wound elements Chen, Yian; Kim, Soomin; Kim, Yeunha Desalination, Vol. 536 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2022.115762	journal	August 2022
Multi-scale visualization of incipient CaCO3 scaling on the polyamide layer of reverse osmosis membranes Sarker, N. R.; Cherukupally, P.; Gourevich, I. Desalination, Vol. 539 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2022.115956	journal	October 2022
Morphometric characterization of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) scale on reverse osmosis membranes Shih, Wen-Yi; Rahardianto, Anditya; Lee, Ron-Wai Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 252, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2004.12.023	journal	April 2005
Diagnostic characterization of gypsum scale formation and control in RO membrane desalination of brackish water Rahardianto, Anditya; Shih, Wen-Yi; Lee, Ron-Wai Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 279, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2005.12.059	journal	August 2006
A novel RO ex situ scale observation detector (EXSOD) for mineral scale characterization and early detection Uchymiak, Michal; Rahardianto, Anditya; Lyster, Eric Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 291, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2006.12.038	journal	March 2007
A study of CaCO3 scale formation and inhibition in RO and NF membrane processes Tzotzi, C.; Pahiadaki, T.; Yiantsios, S. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 296, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2007.03.031	journal	June 2007
Numerical study of concentration polarization in a rectangular reverse osmosis membrane channel: Permeate flux variation and hydrodynamic end effects Lyster, Eric; Cohen, Yoram Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 303, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2007.07.003	journal	October 2007
Coupled 3-D hydrodynamics and mass transfer analysis of mineral scaling-induced flux decline in a laboratory plate-and-frame reverse osmosis membrane module Lyster, Eric; Au, James; Rallo, Robert Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 339, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2009.04.024	journal	September 2009
Surface nano-structuring of reverse osmosis membranes via atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization for reduction of mineral scaling propensity Kim, Myung-man; Lin, Nancy H.; Lewis, Gregory T. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 354, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2010.02.053	journal	May 2010
Scaling propensity of seawater in RO boron removal processes Hasson, David; Shemer, Hilla; Brook, Irina Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 384, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2011.09.027	journal	November 2011
RO membrane mineral scaling in the presence of a biofilm Thompson, John; Lin, Nancy; Lyster, Eric Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 415-416 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2012.04.051	journal	October 2012
Biofouling and cleaning effectiveness of surface nanostructured reverse osmosis membranes Varin, Kari J.; Lin, Nancy H.; Cohen, Yoram Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 446 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2013.06.064	journal	November 2013
Fabrication and characterization of a surface-patterned thin film composite membrane Maruf, Sajjad H.; Greenberg, Alan R.; Pellegrino, John Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 452 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2013.10.017	journal	February 2014
A novel salt-responsive TFC RO membrane having superior antifouling and easy-cleaning properties Meng, Jianqiang; Cao, Zhen; Ni, Lei Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 461 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.03.017	journal	July 2014
Graphene oxide-assisted membranes: Fabrication and potential applications in desalination and water purification Hegab, Hanaa M.; Zou, Linda Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 484 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2015.03.011	journal	June 2015
Analysis of the onset of calcium sulfate scaling on RO membranes Shmulevsky, Marina; Li, Xianhui; Shemer, Hilla Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 524 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2016.11.055	journal	February 2017
Surface functionalization of TFC FO membranes with zwitterionic polymers: Improvement of antifouling and salt-responsive cleaning properties Zhang, Xinyu; Tian, Jiayu; Gao, Shanshan Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 544 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2017.09.044	journal	December 2017
Gypsum scale formation on graphene oxide modified reverse osmosis membrane Cao, Bo; Ansari, Ali; Yi, Xinyi Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 552 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.02.005	journal	April 2018
Fouling minimization at membranes having a 3D surface topology with microgels as soft model colloids Wiese, M.; Nir, O.; Wypysek, D. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 569 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.09.058	journal	January 2019
Mineral scaling in membrane desalination: Mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and feasibility of scaling-resistant membranes Tong, Tiezheng; Wallace, Adam F.; Zhao, Song Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 579 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.02.049	journal	June 2019
Fabricating a pH-responsive membrane through interfacial in-situ assembly of microgels for water gating and self-cleaning Liu, Huawen; Yang, Shanshan; Liu, Yuanwei Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 579 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.03.010	journal	June 2019
The upper bound of thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes for desalination Yang, Zhe; Guo, Hao; Tang, Chuyang Y. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 590 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117297	journal	November 2019
Real-time detection of early-stage calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate scaling using Raman spectroscopy Supekar, Omkar D.; Park, Danielle J.; Greenberg, Alan R. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 596 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117603	journal	February 2020
Zwitterionic coating on thin-film composite membranes to delay gypsum scaling in reverse osmosis Jaramillo, Humberto; Boo, Chanhee; Hashmi, Sara M. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 618 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118568	journal	January 2021
Tuning the hydraulic permeability and molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of surface nano-structured ultrafiltration membranes Chen, Yian; Kim, Soomin; Cohen, Yoram Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 629 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119180	journal	July 2021
Polyacrylic acid-brushes tethered to graphene oxide membrane coating for scaling and biofouling mitigation on reverse osmosis membranes Ansari, Ali; Peña-Bahamonde, Janire; Wang, Meng Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 630 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119308	journal	July 2021
The use of anti-scalants in gypsum scaling mitigation: Comparison with membrane surface modification and efficiency in combined reverse osmosis and membrane distillation Yin, Yiming; Kalam, Sifat; Livingston, Joshua L. Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 643 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120077	journal	March 2022
Fouling resistance and cleaning efficiency of stimuli-responsive reverse osmosis (RO) membranes You, Meng; Wang, Pan; Xu, Mingli Polymer, Vol. 103 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2016.03.065	journal	October 2016
Functionalization of reverse osmosis membrane with graphene oxide and polyacrylic acid to control biofouling and mineral scaling Ashfaq, Mohammad Y.; Al-Ghouti, Mohammad A.; Zouari, Nabil Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 736 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139500	journal	September 2020
Enhancing the performance of PVDF membranes by hydrophilic surface modification via amine treatment Sun, Chenggui; Feng, Xianshe Separation and Purification Technology, Vol. 185 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2017.05.022	journal	September 2017
Fouling resistant and performance tunable ultrafiltration membranes via surface graft polymerization induced by atmospheric pressure air plasma Chen, Yian; Zhang, Jie; Cohen, Yoram Separation and Purification Technology, Vol. 286 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120490	journal	April 2022
Development of antifouling reverse osmosis membranes for water treatment: A review Kang, Guo-dong; Cao, Yi-ming Water Research, Vol. 46, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.11.041	journal	March 2012
Engineered Slippery Surface to Mitigate Gypsum Scaling in Membrane Distillation for Treatment of Hypersaline Industrial Wastewaters Karanikola, Vasiliki; Boo, Chanhee; Rolf, Julianne Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 52, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b04836	journal	November 2018
pH and Salt Response of Mixed Brushes Made of Oppositely Charged Polyelectrolytes Studied by in Situ AFM Force Measurements and Imaging Drechsler, Astrid; Elmahdy, Mahdy M.; Uhlmann, Petra Langmuir, Vol. 34, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00498	journal	April 2018
Surface Modifications for Antifouling Membranes Rana, D.; Matsuura, T. Chemical Reviews, Vol. 110, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1021/cr800208y	journal	April 2010
Reverse Osmosis Desalting of Inland Brackish Water of High Gypsum Scaling Propensity: Kinetics and Mitigation of Membrane Mineral Scaling Rahardianto, Anditya; McCool, Brian C.; Cohen, Yoram Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 42, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1021/es702463a	journal	June 2008
Electrochemical mineral scale prevention and removal on electrically conducting carbon nanotube – polyamide reverse osmosis membranes Duan, Wenyan; Dudchenko, Alexander; Mende, Elizabeth Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, Vol. 16, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1039/C3EM00635B	journal	January 2014
Antiscaling efficacy of CaCO ₃ and CaSO ₄ on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified reverse osmosis membranes in the presence of humic acid: interplay of membrane surface properties and water chemistry Ray, Jessica R.; Wong, Whitney; Jun, Young-Shin Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 19, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CP08569E	journal	January 2017
Sharkskin-mimetic desalination membranes with ultralow biofouling Choi, Wansuk; Lee, Changhoon; Lee, Dahye Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Vol. 6, Issue 45 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TA06125D	journal	January 2018
Polymer surface nano-structuring of reverse osmosis membranes for fouling resistance and improved flux performance Lin, Nancy H.; Kim, Myung-man; Lewis, Gregory T. Journal of Materials Chemistry, Vol. 20, Issue 22, p. 4642-4652 https://doi.org/10.1039/b926918e	journal	January 2010
Evaluating impact of fouling on reverse osmosis membranes performance Peña, N.; Gallego, S.; del Vigo, F. Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol. 51, Issue 4-6 https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.699509	journal	January 2013
Analyses of calcium carbonate scale deposition on four RO membranes under a seawater desalination condition Kang, Nam Wook; Lee, Seockheon; Kim, Dooil Water Science and Technology, Vol. 64, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.671	journal	October 2011
Hydraulic Resistance and Protein Fouling Resistance of a Zirconia Membrane with a Tethered PVP Layer Chen, Yian; Rovira-Bru, Montserrat; Giralt, Francesc Water, Vol. 13, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.3390/w13070951	journal	March 2021
The dissolution and conversion of gypsum and anhydrite Klimchouk, Alexander International Journal of Speleology, Vol. 25, Issue 3/4 https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.25.3.2	journal	July 1996

Similar Records

Molecular insights into the structure-property relationships of 3D printed polyamide reverse-osmosis membrane for desalination

Journal Article · Fri Jun 17 20:00:00 EDT 2022 · Journal of Membrane Science · OSTI ID:1981710

Polyamide-Based Ion Exchange Membranes: Cation-Selective Transport through Water Purification Membranes

Journal Article · Thu Jan 25 19:00:00 EST 2024 · ACS Applied Polymer Materials · OSTI ID:2337453

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization
biochemistry & molecular biology
brush layer
calcium carbonate
chemistry
engineering
gypsum
materials science
membrane cleaning
mineral scaling
polymer science
surface nano-structuring

Calcium Sulfate and Calcium Carbonate Scaling of Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membranes with Surface-Tethered Polyacrylic Acid Chains

Citation Formats

References (61)

Similar Records

Related Subjects