Effect of operation parameters on the mass transfer and fouling in submerged vacuum membrane distillation crystallization (VMDC) for inland brine water treatment

With accelerated tests with extreme feed concentration, both transverse vibration and aeration were able to increase the initial flux by reducing boundary layer thickness on the membrane surface. However, with transverse vibration, rapid reduction of flux occurred earlier due to the enhanced CaCO3precipitation on the membrane surface. The aeration of feed improved productivity with longer period of high flux with the increased nucleation in the bulk feed solution. Thermal water softening procedure prolonged the operation time by increased calcium precipitation in the feed solution and slower CaCO3 nucleation on the membrane surface.