Mechanistic analysis of microfiltration membrane fouling by buckminsterfullerene (C-60) nanoparticles

作者：Henry Coleman; Brant Jonathan A^*

来源：Journal of Membrane Science, 2012, 415: 546-557.

DOI：10.1016/j.memsci.2012.05.042

• Nanoparticle
• Fouling
• Microfiltration
• Buckminsterfullerene (C-60)

Manufactured nanoparticles, like buckminsterfullerene (C-60), are characterized by unique surface chemistries and physical properties. As such they are expected to interact with, and subsequently foul, membrane surfaces in unconventional manners. C-60 nanoparticles were found to result in severe and rapid flux decline for a representative microfiltration (MF) membrane. The magnitude of flux loss that was observed was a function of the feed solution chemistry (pH, ionic strength) and generally followed expectations based on charge, van der Waals, and acid-base interactions. Permeate flux loss was determined to be a function of inter-particle interactions (aggregation state, cake packing density) and less a function of membrane-particle interactions in agreement with earlier studies. Cake filtration was found to best describe the flux loss resulting from C-60 nanoparticle fouling of the MF membrane; however, under unfavorable deposition conditions the nanoparticles, C-60 and a fluorescent nanospheres, were capable of passing through and depositing within the MF membrane structure. Therefore, standard pore blocking was also occurring at least during the initial stages of membrane fouling.

• 出版日期2012-10-1