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Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination
Published on: March 1, 2020
Spinel-based ceramic membranes coupling solid sludge recycling with oily wastewater treatment
Mingliang Chen1, Li Zhu2, Jingwen Chen3
1Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education, MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, PR China; Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA, Delft, the Netherlands.
This study introduces a novel waste-to-resource method for creating low-cost ceramic membranes from nickel sludge. These membranes efficiently treat heavy metal wastewater and separate oil-in-water emulsions, offering a sustainable solution.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Treating wastewater sludge and emulsions simultaneously is a significant challenge.
- Heavy metal contamination in wastewater requires effective stabilization and recycling methods.
- Developing cost-effective ceramic membranes for water treatment is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a waste-to-resource strategy for fabricating low-cost ceramic membranes.
- To simultaneously treat heavy metal-laden sludges and separate oil-in-water emulsions.
- To investigate the performance and fouling mechanisms of the fabricated ceramic membranes.
Main Methods:
- A thermal conversion mechanism was employed using simulated nickel-laden wastewater sludge and bauxite mineral.
- Spinel-based ceramic membranes were rationally designed and fabricated.
- Membrane performance was evaluated for oil-in-water emulsion separation, focusing on flux and rejection.
- Membrane fouling mechanisms were analyzed under varying cross-flow velocities.
Main Results:
- The process achieved full stabilization and recycling of heavy metal wastewater sludges.
- Tailored ceramic membranes exhibited high water flux (7473 LMH·bar⁻¹) and high rejection for oily wastewater separation.
- Membrane fouling was dominated by cake layer formation at low cross-flow velocities and a combination of cake layer formation and pore blocking at high velocities.
- The developed membranes outperformed existing state-of-the-art ceramic membranes.
Conclusions:
- The proposed waste-to-resource strategy enables the fabrication of high-performance, low-cost ceramic membranes from heavy metal sludge.
- This approach offers an efficient and economic solution for simultaneous wastewater sludge treatment and oily wastewater separation.
- The strategy holds potential for broader applications in functional ceramic membrane design for various water treatment challenges.
