Ultrasonic Microsensors for In-Situ Monitoring of Membrane Biofouling

PIs: Victor M. Bright, Alan Greenberg, Mark Hernandez
Student: Keith Cobry

Project field/specialty: Acoustic sensing

Project Description:

Microporous membranes are used in numerous liquid separation processes, such as the filtering of drinking water and processing of various pharmaceutical products. Biofouling of these membranes, however, presents one of the most common and dangerous difficulties in these processes. Biofouling is the irreversible growth of a biofilm on a membrane, which not only alters the functional properties of the membrane but can serve as a source of contamination. Current membrane-based liquid separation processes are generally monitored by external volumetric flow based techniques. These external approaches, however, provide delayed information on the growth of the biofilms. This delay between the actual growth and the observation of the biofilm can detrimentally affect the quality of a product. We propose to develop an ultrasonic microsensor system integrated into a separation flow chamber that will characterize biofilm growth on a separation membrane in real time. This in-situ sensor will be based on ultrasonic acoustic reflectometry, and will involve investigation into the properties of acoustic waves in liquid, solid and porous materials, as well as the effects of interfaces. Microfabrication techniques will be employed to develop a functioning sensor and transducer system. The focus of this project will be on the design and development of the ultrasonic microsensor, rather than on the microbiology.

 
J. Chen, Q. Li, M. Elimelech, "In situ monitoring techniques for concentration polarization and fouling phenomena in membrane filtration," Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 107, pp. 83-108, 2004.

A.P. Mairal, et al, J. Membrane Science, vol. 159, pp. 185-196, 1999

Funding Source: NSF (Conducted through the Membrane Applied Science and Technology (MAST) Center)

Last Updated: February 2008