Journal article
Detection of low concentration of assimilable organic carbon in seawater prior to reverse osmosis membrane using microbial electrolysis cell biosensor
Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol.55(11), pp.2885-2890
2014
Abstract
Biofouling of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is one of the most serious problems encountered for seawater desalination. This problem is commonly associated with a significant decline in flux, elevated energy requirement, and increased cost of operation. As the biofouling of the membranes is due to bacteria growing on the membrane, which is supported by assimilable organic carbon (AOC), a good AOC monitoring system is essential and crucial for RO biofouling prediction. This study focuses on the development of a new biosensor that is online, robust, and allows accurate quantification of AOC concentrations in seawater based on a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) principle. The biosensor is based on the quantification of the current generated by bacteria in the presence of AOC. The biosensor response to AOC was rapid (within 10 min) and sensitive (detection limit = 10 μM acetate) in seawater samples. The results reproducibly showed a linear relationship between trace amounts of AOC and electrochemical signals (R2> 0.99). The MEC-based biosensor developed can be effectively used as an online and rapid measure of AOC concentrations and hence as an indicator for biofouling potential of influent seawater prior to RO membrane.
Details
- Title
- Detection of low concentration of assimilable organic carbon in seawater prior to reverse osmosis membrane using microbial electrolysis cell biosensor
- Authors/Creators
- S.B. Quek (Author/Creator)L. Cheng (Author/Creator)R. Cord-Ruwisch (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol.55(11), pp.2885-2890
- Publisher
- Desalination Publications
- Identifiers
- 991005544615107891
- Copyright
- © 2014 Balaban Desalination Publications
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Information Technology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.83 Bioengineering
- 3.83.1487 Microbial Fuel Cell
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Chemical
- Water Resources
- ESI research areas
- Engineering