View article

Reverse osmosis is becoming popular for the purification of water resources e.g. sea and brackish water. However, one of the major limitations in efficient operation are the fouling of membranes and relevant technique used to inhibit scaling due to the presence of sparingly soluble salts. The occurrence of this type of fouling results in a significant increase in both operation and maintenance. This review begins by providing a general overview of membrane fouling by minerals usually found in sea and inland water resources. The paper then discusses some important aspects of the phenomena itself: different mechanisms; concentration polarization; the major types of mineral scales including their prevalence and characteristics; and consequences of fouling on membrane performance. This is followed by a discussion of the major strategies currently considered for the control and prevention of scale formation. The …