Innovative composite fluidized hydrogel GAC particles for effective membrane fouling mitigation and membrane integrity protection

Membrane filtration is recognized as an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient technology for water treatment, but membrane fouling is still a significant challenge that increases maintenance costs and reduces membrane lifespan. Particle scouring can effectively mitigate fouling with lower energy consumption. This study investigates the use of fluidized granular activated carbon (GAC) particles encapsulated with hydrogel layers to enhance fouling mitigation in microfiltration systems treating surface water. The proposed hydrogel-modified GAC particles aim to balance scouring efficiency with membrane integrity. The results demonstrate that optimizing hydrogel preparation conditions significantly enhanced the mechanical strength and surface hydrophilicity of GAC particles. The incorporation of hydrogel layers notably improved membrane fouling mitigation, reducing transmembrane pressure (TMP) by 19.3 %, 27.1 %, and 34.3 % for layer thicknesses of 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, and 1.5 mm, respectively. The hydrodynamic behavior of fluidized GAC particles was significantly improved, enhancing the effectiveness of fouling mitigation in water treatment processes. Additionally, the hydrogel layer effectively protected membrane integrity and inhibited carbon release, ensuring minimal damage and stable permeability. This study underscores the pivotal role of hydrogel layers in improving the performance and longevity of membrane filtration systems, when fluidized GAC particles are used for membrane fouling control.