| SEM images of each state of ceramic membrane; (a) SEM image of the new membrane; (b) SEM image of membrane whose pollution reached the limit; (c) SEM image of fouling membrane after physical cleaning; (d) SEM image of fouling membrane cleaned by H 2 SO 4 first and then DTAC.

Contexts in source publication

Context 1

... order to better observe the microstructure of the ceramic membrane, it was characterized by SEM, as shown in Figure 6. The surface of the new membrane was rough, and the membrane holes were irregular and clearly visible, as shown in Figure 6(a); the surface of the membrane with the pollution reaching the limit showed a relatively smooth pollution layer under the scanning electron microscope and there were occasional contaminated particles on the membrane surface, and the membrane pores were blocked and covered by pollutants, as shown in Figure 6(b); after physical cleaning, most of thecontaminated membrane surface was still blocked by pollutants, and only some membrane holes were visible. ...

Context 2

... order to better observe the microstructure of the ceramic membrane, it was characterized by SEM, as shown in Figure 6. The surface of the new membrane was rough, and the membrane holes were irregular and clearly visible, as shown in Figure 6(a); the surface of the membrane with the pollution reaching the limit showed a relatively smooth pollution layer under the scanning electron microscope and there were occasional contaminated particles on the membrane surface, and the membrane pores were blocked and covered by pollutants, as shown in Figure 6(b); after physical cleaning, most of thecontaminated membrane surface was still blocked by pollutants, and only some membrane holes were visible. The number and shape of membrane holes were quite different from that of the new membrane, as shown in Figure 6(c). ...

Context 3

... order to better observe the microstructure of the ceramic membrane, it was characterized by SEM, as shown in Figure 6. The surface of the new membrane was rough, and the membrane holes were irregular and clearly visible, as shown in Figure 6(a); the surface of the membrane with the pollution reaching the limit showed a relatively smooth pollution layer under the scanning electron microscope and there were occasional contaminated particles on the membrane surface, and the membrane pores were blocked and covered by pollutants, as shown in Figure 6(b); after physical cleaning, most of thecontaminated membrane surface was still blocked by pollutants, and only some membrane holes were visible. The number and shape of membrane holes were quite different from that of the new membrane, as shown in Figure 6(c). ...

Context 4

... surface of the new membrane was rough, and the membrane holes were irregular and clearly visible, as shown in Figure 6(a); the surface of the membrane with the pollution reaching the limit showed a relatively smooth pollution layer under the scanning electron microscope and there were occasional contaminated particles on the membrane surface, and the membrane pores were blocked and covered by pollutants, as shown in Figure 6(b); after physical cleaning, most of thecontaminated membrane surface was still blocked by pollutants, and only some membrane holes were visible. The number and shape of membrane holes were quite different from that of the new membrane, as shown in Figure 6(c). This showed that physical cleaning could only remove some pollutants on the surface and in the hole, and could not completely restore the membrane flux. ...

Context 5

... showed that physical cleaning could only remove some pollutants on the surface and in the hole, and could not completely restore the membrane flux. As shown in Figure 6(d), after cleaning with H 2 SO 4 first and then DTAC, it could be clearly seen that the pollutants on the surface and in the hole had been removed, and the roughness of the surface has returned to the level of the new membrane, which also explained that the flux after this chemical cleaning method almost reached the level of the new membrane. In addition, it can be seen from Figure 6(a) and 6(d) that compared with the new membrane, some of the membrane pores were slightly larger. ...

Context 6

... shown in Figure 6(d), after cleaning with H 2 SO 4 first and then DTAC, it could be clearly seen that the pollutants on the surface and in the hole had been removed, and the roughness of the surface has returned to the level of the new membrane, which also explained that the flux after this chemical cleaning method almost reached the level of the new membrane. In addition, it can be seen from Figure 6(a) and 6(d) that compared with the new membrane, some of the membrane pores were slightly larger. The reason may be that the ceramic membrane was soaked with agent for a long time, which led to the increase of the pore size of some membranes, and then increased the flux of the ceramic membrane. ...