Floc properties and membrane fouling in coagulation/ultrafiltration process for the treatment of Xiaoqing River: The role of polymeric aluminum-polymer dual-coagulants.

In this study, novel lignin-based flocculant (LBF) was prepared in recycling of papermaking sludge. And LBF combined with polyaluminum chloride (PAC) was used in the coagulation/ultrafiltration combined process. Effects of polymer types, pH and ultrafiltration time on the membrane fouling mechanism and resistance distribution were studied based on blocking model and resistance-in-series model. Results showed that strongly-attached external fouling was the primary fouling mechanism in PAC coagulation and dual-coagulation systems. Dual-coagulation achieved the slighter fouling due to the formation of poriferous cake layer. In the PAC system, the fouling mechanism transformed from intermediate fouling to cake layer with the ultrafiltration process. Addition of LBF could accelerate cake layer formation and further control internal fouling. PAC + LBF mainly decreased external fouling resistance and reversible internal fouling resistance to enhance permeation flux. And the total resistance (expect intrinsic membrane resistance) was lowered by more than 50% compared with PAC. The primary combined models in PAC and PAC + LBF systems were cake-standard blocking and cake-intermediate blocking, respectively. Initial pH showed a significant effect on membrane fouling. The slighter membrane fouling was acquired at pH 5.5. Addition of LBF could decrease the influence of pH on the fouling index and distribution.