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Scaling mechanism of gypsum and silica in membrane
distillation based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Authors： ZHOU Lu, HAN Minyuan, LI Hanjie, LIU Jian, HAN Le

Units： College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China

KeyWords： membrane distillation; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; membrane scaling

ClassificationCode：TQ028; TK2

year,volume(issue):pagination： 2025,45(3):155-162

Abstract：

Membrane distillation (MD), as an emerging technology for treating high-salt wastewater, is limited in its wide application by inorganic fouling-induced clogging and membrane wetting. The in-depth analysis of membrane fouling phenomena still needs to be further explored, and interfacial electrical impedance characterization is a potential analytical entry point, but no systematic report on resolving membrane fouling has been reported in the literature. In this paper, we compare the fouling behavior of representative inorganic species, gypsum and silica, during the MD process, with gypsum leading to earlier membrane flux decline and significant membrane wetting. Scanning electron microscopy results confirmed significant differences in the morphology and distribution of gypsum and silica fouling, and mechanical tensile tests showed that gypsum scaling reduced the mechanical properties of membrane materials. Combined with the physicochemical characteristics of the interface between the external and internal membrane pores, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that gypsum crystallized on the membrane surface and inside the pores, which reduced the membrane resistance, while silica formed a fouling layer mainly on the membrane surface, which led to an increase in the membrane surface resistance. The different fouling behaviors of gypsum and silica have different effects on the electrochemical performance of the membrane, and the results provide an important theoretical basis for the development of efficient fouling control strategies in future membrane processes.

Funds：

国家自然科学基金项目（52270058）；重庆市科技局新重庆青年创新人才项目（2024NSCQ-qncxX0233）；重庆市自然科学基金项目（CSTB2024NSCQ-MSX1123）

AuthorIntro：

周鹭（2000-），女，重庆巴南人，硕士研究生，研究方向为膜法水处理、膜蒸馏的膜污染机理研究等

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