Membrane autopsy of reverse osmosis membrane module used for deionize brackish water
Water Supply, vol.26, no.7, pp.686-700, 2026 (Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 26 Issue: 7
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.2166/ws.2026.167
- Journal Name: Water Supply
- Journal Indexes: Scopus, BIOSIS, Compendex, EMBASE, Environment Index, Geobase, ICONDA Bibliographic, The International Construction Database (ICONDA), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Page Numbers: pp.686-700
- Keywords: clay minerals, colloidal fouling, inorganic scaling, membrane autopsy, reverse osmosis
- Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems are widely used in industrial water treatment; however, membrane fouling remains a major operational challenge that leads to performance deterioration and increased operational costs. In this study, a membrane autopsy was performed on a spiral-wound RO membrane module removed from a full-scale RO system operating in a food industry facility. Several analytical techniques, including X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fujiwara testing, were used to determine the chemical composition and the morphology of the foulants. The analytical results revealed that the dominant fouling components were calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and clay minerals. XRD analysis showed characteristic crystalline peaks corresponding to calcite, while FTIR spectra confirmed carbonate and silicate functional groups. SEM images revealed dense deposition layers associated with inorganic scaling and colloidal fouling. The findings demonstrate that membrane performance deterioration was primarily caused by combined inorganic scaling and fouling resulting from CaCO3 precipitation and clay mineral accumulation. The findings provide practical and site-specific insights into fouling mechanisms and highlight the importance of improved pretreatment strategies to control membrane fouling and mineral scaling, thereby enhancing the operational stability and lifespan of RO systems in industrial applications.