(Paper) Relationship between performance deterioration of a RO membrane and changes in its physicochemical properties

A paper in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Suzuki entitled “Relationship between performance deterioration of a polyamide reverse osmosis membrane used in a seawater desalination plant and changes in its phyisochemical properties” is published in Water Research. In this paper we studied the relationship between membrane performance changes in a seawater desalination plant and changes in the physical and chemical properties of membranes. The desalination plant used free chlorine as an upstream disinfectant. The results showed that membrane use at the treatment plant led to decreased water flux, decreased salt rejection, and increased organic fouling propensity. Results also showed that these performance changes were the result of degradation of the membrane surface coating and uptake of bromine by the polyamide active layer. This paper can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.04.068 (Water Research. 2016, 100, 326-336).