Speaker
Description
Microfiltration is a widely used technology for water production and wastewater treatment. The major limitation associated with this process is the formation of fouling layers on membrane surfaces, primarily composed of organic matter such as bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The dynamics of these deposits leads to an increase in the hydraulic resistance and a consequent decline in permeate flux during membrane operation. In water treatment systems, biofouling constitutes a significant operational cost due to the energy consumption and chemical usage required for membrane cleaning procedures. Since biofouling is intrinsically connected to biofilm formation and development, the ability to predict biofilm growth and its temporal evolution on membrane surfaces is essential for optimizing membrane reactor performance and designing effective backwashing strategies under different filtration conditions. To address this issue, a one-dimensional PDE mathematical model has been developed and formulated as a free boundary value problem, describing biofilm dynamics and EPS production during microfiltration. The proposed framework combines classical filtration theory in series—based with a multispecies biofilm growth model. The proposed model provides a mathematical framework for describing backwashing effects and biofouling kinetics during microfiltration processes.
