Novel insights into membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor: Elucidating interfacial interactions with real membrane surface

While governing adhesion/deposition of various foulants on membrane surface and membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs), interfacial interactions with real membrane surface have not yet been fully quantified. In this study, theoretical deduction and experiments were carried out to numerically elucidate interfacial interactions in a MBR. A continuous real membrane morphology was reconstructed based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization and triangulation technique. Thereafter, a method to calculate those interactions was established by incorporating the spatial relationship between a foulant and the reconstructed morphology into surface element integration (SEI) method. A case study of the proposed method was conducted. With surface characterization of the foulants and membrane, the interfacial interactions with real membrane morphology were approximated for the first time by computer programming according to composite Simpson’s rule. The results showed that rough morphology prolonged the interfacial interactions, indicating the profound role of morphology in the interfacial interactions related with membrane fouling. The new method would provide significant insights into membrane fouling in MBRs. [Display omitted] •Real membrane surface was reconstructed by triangulation technique and AFM.•A new method to calculate interactions with real membrane surface was established.•Interfacial interactions with real membrane surface was approximated for the first time.•Rough membrane morphology exerted important impacts on membrane fouling.•The new method has a broad prospect in fouling and interface behavior research.