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2. PHD Thesis / Tesis PHD
3. Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment / Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina

Title:	Surface Modification Of Nanofiltration Membranes For Improved Performance & Fouling Resistance In Brackish Water Desalination Process
Authors:	Azzam A.M Abuhabib (P49881)
Supervisor:	Abdul Wahab Mohammad, Professor Dr.
Keywords:	Surface Modification Of Nanofiltration Membranes Modification Of Nanofiltration Membranes Performance & Fouling Resistance In Brackish Water Desalination Process Brackish Water Desalination Process Saline water conversion
Issue Date:	3-Apr-2013
Description:	For decades, desalination has been considered as a sole option for population where surface water resources are limited and run off average is very low. Brackish and seawater desalination provide potable water at reasonable cost, especially via membrane processes. Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes have dominated most of the desalination market. However over the years, Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been reasonably competing with RO membranes as both pretreatment method and standalone technology. The objectives of this research are: (i) to study the applicability of Nanofiltration membranes to desalinate brackish water of Gaza Strip conditions, (ii) to study the performance, characterization, and fouling tendency to humic acid (HA) of these nanofiltration membranes while desalting brackish water, (iii) to improve NF membranes properties, performance, and fouling resistance by surface modification and (iv) to apply artificial neural networks ANNs for modeling of unmodified and modified NF membranes performance. In addition, an assessment was made for large scale RO brackish desalination plants of Gaza Strip to investigate the operating conditions and characterization of these plants feeds and permeates. The assessment assisted in better understanding of brackish desalination condition in Gaza strip and in recommending certain improvements of which emerging nanofiltration membranes may be the best option. In order to achieve the research objectives, two commercial NF membranes denoted as NF-1, and ASP30 were characterized, tested, and modified. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and contact angle were used to characterize these membranes. Flux and rejection of both membranes were also investigated. The results showed higher flux for ASP30 over NF-1 membrane. In contrast, NF-1 membrane had higher rejection of MgSO4 (91%) and NaCl( 44%) over the ASP30 membrane (both salts rejection were less than 40%). Surface modification via UV-initiated grafting was applied to improve salt rejection of both membranes as well as fouling resistance to humic acid. A new combined monomer of acrylic acid and ethylenediamine dihydrochloride at various mixing percentages and concentrations was grafted on both NF membranes surfaces via UV-initiated for different periods of time. For this modified NF membrane, rejection of MgSO4 and NaCl relatively increased from 89% to 94% and from 44% to 57% respectively. However, on the ASP30 side, rejection of MgSO4 reasonably increased from 32% to 73% and slightly increased for NaCl from 27% and 51%. The best performing modified NF membranes was NF4% - 5 minutes UV exposure time with MgSO4 and NaCl rejection of 94% and 57%. In addition, all NF-1 based modified membranes had better fouling resistance to HA as well as higher HA rejection than unmodified NF-1 membrane. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to compare and predict the performance of NF-1 unmodified membrane and NF4% - 5 min UV. As a conclusion, the data obtained from this research provides valuable information on performance, fouling, and surface modification of commercial NF membranes via UV initiated grafting to improve NF performance and fouling resistance to humic acid while desalting brackish water.,PhD
Pages:	193
Call Number:	TD479 .A258 2013 3
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment / Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina

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