Characterization of Membrane Fouling for Optimization of Membrane Filtration Processes for Improved Water Recovery

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Food processing industry consumes a large amount of water and thus generates approximately the same amount**of wastewater. To achieve water treatment system closure and thus reduce water demand from the**environment, water reclamation has been widely used in industries, including food processing industry.**Membrane technology plays a dominant role in water reclamation and reuse, due to the advantages of**membrane separations. AMEC Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure (FWEI), a division of AMEC**Foster Wheeler Americas Ltd has been hired to design and optimize a Water Reclamation Plant for a major**food processing company. The major challenges in membrane-based water reclamation plants is membrane**fouling, which deteriorates membrane performance, decreases process efficiency, increases chemical usages in**membrane cleaning, and thus reduces membrane lifespan. The proposed study will examine the nature of**foulants and identify the mechanisms of membrane fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO)**membranes from a large scale food processing water reclamation plant and ultimately develop cost effective**membrane fouling cleaning strategies to improve water recovery and reduce operating costs and environmental**impact. It is anticipated that this study will generate new knowledge in membrane-based water and wastewater**treatments that can be implemented in full-scale membrane filtration plants and will enhance the expertise and**knowledge of AMEC FWEI process engineers and thus provide excellent and improved consulting service in**membrane water and wastewater purification in Canada and the world.