Tao, Chen

Chen Tao is a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo. Her research now focuses on tertiary fouling under challenging conditions. Chen earned a bachelor of environmental engineering from China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and a master in Geography from the University of Waterloo.

Titles from this speaker

Characterization of Low Temperature Fouling of Tertiary Ultrafiltration Membranes

Abstract

The present research investigated the effects of low temperature on the characteristics of the effluents from lab scale sequencing batch reactors treating municipal sewage and the subsequent tertiary fouling behaviour and mechanisms. The SBR performance was reduced as temperature decreased from 20℃ to 8℃, as indicated by higher effluent COD, DOC and turbidity. With 8℃ and 14℃ effluents, the membrane performance significantly deteriorated. Tests that were conducted with backwash/aeration demonstrated that much of the higher fouling with 8℃ and 14℃ effluents was reversible. The formation of a cake layer was identified as the major fouling mechanism at low temperatures. In addition, increased intrinsic membrane resistance observed at low temperatures further intensified membrane fouling. The formation of cake layer associated with polysaccharides was demonstrated to be a dominant fouling mechanism with low temperature effluents whereas pore blocking related to proteins was more significant with room temperature effluents.

SpeakerTao, Chen

Presentation time

10:30:00

10:50:00

Session time

10:30:00

11:30:00

SessionNo Foul Play! Keep Membranes Working

Session number512

TopicFacility Operations and Maintenance, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, Water Reuse and Reclamation

Author(s)

C. TaoC. TaoP. BerubeW. Parker