This ongoing project aims to improve RO membrane pre-treatment processes by placing dynamic membranes in front of the UF/MF unit so as to relieve the load on the downstream processing. Dynamic membranes (DM), a class of membranes that has not yet found general industrial application, are formed in situ by colloid deposition on a porous support. They are an attractive method to relieve the load on the downstream pre-treatment membranes because, once fouled, they can be removed and reformed in place.

This research concentrates on defining DM formation conditions for organic foulant retention and characterizing DM separation properties. Results to date are encouraging.

1. Altman, M., Hasson, D. and Semiat, R., "Removal of Organic Foulants from Feed Waters by Dynamic Membranes", the Technion Workshop on "Fouling and Mitigation in Membranes Processes", Haifa, Israel, January 1999.
2. Semiat, R., Hasson, H. and Altman, M., "Removal of Organic Foulants from Feed Waters by Dynamic Membranes" Accepted to Desalination and Environment, EDS Conference on 9-12 Nov. 1999, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
3. Altman, M., Hasson, D. and Semiat, R. "Dynamic Membranes" In the course of publication, (1999).