3D printed feed spacers based on triply periodic minimal surfaces for flux enhancement and biofouling mitigation in RO and UF

Nurshaun Sreedhar; Navya Thomas; Oraib Al-Ketan; Reza Rowshan; Hector Hernandez; Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub; Hassan A. Arafat

doi:10.1016/j.desal.2017.10.010

3D printed feed spacers based on triply periodic minimal surfaces for flux enhancement and biofouling mitigation in RO and UF

Nurshaun Sreedhar, Navya Thomas, Oraib Al-Ketan, Reza Rowshan, Hector Hernandez, Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub, Hassan A. Arafat

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Abstract

In this proof of concept study, 3D printed feed spacers with complex geometries based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were designed and tested in reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) processes. The spacers showed flux enhancement of 15.5% and 38% in brackish water RO and UF tests with sodium alginate solution, respectively, in comparison to a commercial feed spacer. Moreover, lower feed channel pressure drop was also observed for the TPMS spacers. Biofouling tests were performed and the membranes were characterized using total organic carbon (TOC) and fluorescence microscopy. The TPMS spacers yielded a reduction in biofouling when compared to commercial feed spacers. Fouling patterns on the membranes were visualized for the different spacers using crystal violet stain, which also revealed a significantly reduced biofilm deposition using the TPMS spacers. The TPMS-based feed spacers have shown great promise in enhancing both RO and UF membrane processes, both in terms of flux enhancement and fouling reduction.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	12-21
Number of pages	10
Journal	Desalination
Volume	425
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.10.010
State	Published - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

3D printing
Feed spacers
Reverse osmosis
Triply periodic minimal surfaces
Ultrafiltration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Chemical Engineering
General Materials Science
Water Science and Technology
Mechanical Engineering

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10.1016/j.desal.2017.10.010

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title = "3D printed feed spacers based on triply periodic minimal surfaces for flux enhancement and biofouling mitigation in RO and UF",

abstract = "In this proof of concept study, 3D printed feed spacers with complex geometries based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were designed and tested in reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) processes. The spacers showed flux enhancement of 15.5% and 38% in brackish water RO and UF tests with sodium alginate solution, respectively, in comparison to a commercial feed spacer. Moreover, lower feed channel pressure drop was also observed for the TPMS spacers. Biofouling tests were performed and the membranes were characterized using total organic carbon (TOC) and fluorescence microscopy. The TPMS spacers yielded a reduction in biofouling when compared to commercial feed spacers. Fouling patterns on the membranes were visualized for the different spacers using crystal violet stain, which also revealed a significantly reduced biofilm deposition using the TPMS spacers. The TPMS-based feed spacers have shown great promise in enhancing both RO and UF membrane processes, both in terms of flux enhancement and fouling reduction.",

keywords = "3D printing, Feed spacers, Reverse osmosis, Triply periodic minimal surfaces, Ultrafiltration",

author = "Nurshaun Sreedhar and Navya Thomas and Oraib Al-Ketan and Reza Rowshan and Hector Hernandez and {Abu Al-Rub}, {Rashid K.} and Arafat, {Hassan A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2018",

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doi = "10.1016/j.desal.2017.10.010",

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AU - Sreedhar, Nurshaun

AU - Thomas, Navya

AU - Al-Ketan, Oraib

AU - Rowshan, Reza

AU - Hernandez, Hector

AU - Abu Al-Rub, Rashid K.

AU - Arafat, Hassan A.

PY - 2018/1/1

Y1 - 2018/1/1

N2 - In this proof of concept study, 3D printed feed spacers with complex geometries based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were designed and tested in reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) processes. The spacers showed flux enhancement of 15.5% and 38% in brackish water RO and UF tests with sodium alginate solution, respectively, in comparison to a commercial feed spacer. Moreover, lower feed channel pressure drop was also observed for the TPMS spacers. Biofouling tests were performed and the membranes were characterized using total organic carbon (TOC) and fluorescence microscopy. The TPMS spacers yielded a reduction in biofouling when compared to commercial feed spacers. Fouling patterns on the membranes were visualized for the different spacers using crystal violet stain, which also revealed a significantly reduced biofilm deposition using the TPMS spacers. The TPMS-based feed spacers have shown great promise in enhancing both RO and UF membrane processes, both in terms of flux enhancement and fouling reduction.

AB - In this proof of concept study, 3D printed feed spacers with complex geometries based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were designed and tested in reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) processes. The spacers showed flux enhancement of 15.5% and 38% in brackish water RO and UF tests with sodium alginate solution, respectively, in comparison to a commercial feed spacer. Moreover, lower feed channel pressure drop was also observed for the TPMS spacers. Biofouling tests were performed and the membranes were characterized using total organic carbon (TOC) and fluorescence microscopy. The TPMS spacers yielded a reduction in biofouling when compared to commercial feed spacers. Fouling patterns on the membranes were visualized for the different spacers using crystal violet stain, which also revealed a significantly reduced biofilm deposition using the TPMS spacers. The TPMS-based feed spacers have shown great promise in enhancing both RO and UF membrane processes, both in terms of flux enhancement and fouling reduction.

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3D printed feed spacers based on triply periodic minimal surfaces for flux enhancement and biofouling mitigation in RO and UF

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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