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Impact of microplastics on organic fouling of hollow fiber membranes
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Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to watch how polyethylene microplastics and alginate (a material mimicking biological slime) clog hollow fiber water filtration membranes, finding that microplastics alone caused minimal flow disruption and were easy to rinse out, while organic fouling was far more damaging and required chemical cleaning. When both were present together, the combined fouling was more uneven but paradoxically easier to remove hydraulically than organic fouling alone.
Given the potential hazards of microplastics (MPs), it is desirable to efficiently remove them during wastewater treatment processes. To this end, ultrafiltration (UF) membranes can significantly increase the removal of MPs, however the fouling of such membrane modules can also be impacted by the presence of MPs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used here to non-invasively quantify the effect of polyethylene (PE) MPs accumulation in a 3D UF hollow fiber (HF) membrane module containing 400 fibers, via direct non-invasive velocity imaging of the flow distribution between individual fibers during module operation. The co-effect of MPs and alginate (a common organic model foulant mimicking extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)) on fouling of the HF module was then explored. Flow was initially equally distributed with fouling causing flow in particular fibers to be significantly reduced. Fouling with MPs resulted in minimal flow distribution disruption and was easily remediated hydraulically, in contrast alginate fouling required chemical cleaning in order to fully restore homogeneous flow distribution between the fibers. The presence of both MPs and alginate resulted in a more heterogeneous disruption of the fibre flow distribution due to fouling and resulted in much more effective hydraulic cleaning of the module.
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Fate and Behavior of Microplastics in Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems for Water Treatment: Fouling, Releasing, and Organic Leaching
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Researchers investigated the fate and behavior of microplastics in ultrafiltration membrane systems used for water treatment, examining three key phenomena: membrane fouling caused by microplastic deposition, release of microplastics through membrane failure or bypass, and leaching of organic additives from microplastics. The work provides mechanistic understanding of how microplastics interact with ultrafiltration systems in drinking water treatment contexts.
Membrane Technologies for Microplastics Removal from Wastewater: Recent Progress, Fouling Mechanisms, and Future Perspectives
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are slipping through our wastewater treatment plants and ending up back in the environment—and potentially in our food and water—because standard filtering methods aren't fine enough to catch them. This review paper rounds up the latest research on advanced filter membranes that can trap these particles more effectively, while also tackling a key problem: the membranes tend to get clogged by the plastics they're filtering out. While these technologies aren't yet perfected or widely deployed, they represent a promising step toward cleaner water and reduced human exposure to microplastics, which have been linked to potential health concerns.
Membrane fouling characteristics and mechanisms in coagulation-ultrafiltration process for treating microplastic-containing water
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This study investigated how microplastics affect membrane fouling during a common water treatment process that combines coagulation with ultrafiltration. Researchers found that while microplastics initially worsen membrane fouling, adding the right amount of coagulant can actually turn the plastics into an advantage by creating a looser filter cake that improves water flow.
Microplastics fouling and interaction with polymeric membranes: A review
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This review examined microplastic fouling of polymeric membranes used in water treatment, analyzing how MPs affect membrane permeability and rejection performance, and discussing strategies — including surface modification and pre-treatment — to mitigate fouling.
Synergistic effects of microplastics and organic foulants on the performance of forward osmosis membranes
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Researchers found that microplastics and humic acid together cause greater fouling of forward osmosis membranes than either contaminant alone, with combined exposure producing a higher flux decline — a key consideration for designing wastewater treatment systems that use membrane filtration.
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