Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging process with a proven ability to recover freshwater from streams with a wide range of salinities. However, MD is susceptible to biofouling. This study explores the efficiency of different cleaning strategies in biofilm removal during seawater MD. Hydraulic cleaning and chemical cleanings with 0.3%w w⁻¹ ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 0.3%w w⁻¹ NaOCl, and 3%w w⁻¹ citric acid were tested. The results showed that permeate flux recovery increased in the order of hydraulic cleaning <3%w w⁻¹ citric acid <0.3%w w⁻¹ NaOCl ≈0.3%w w⁻¹ EDTA. Membrane cleanings substantially reduced the thickness of the residual biofilm layer and decreased its bacterial concentration and resistance to vapor pressure. The post-cleaning permeate conductivities were low suggesting that employed cleaning protocols did not cause pore wetting of hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene microporous (0.22 μm) membrane, and membrane rejection properties remained stable.

膜蒸馏 (MD) 是一种新兴工艺，已被证明能够从各种盐度的溪流中回收淡水。然而，MD 容易受到生物污垢的影响。本研究探讨了海水 MD 过程中不同清洁策略去除生物膜的效率。测试了液压清洗和使用0.3%w w ^-1乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）、0.3%w w ^-1 NaOCl和3%w w ^-1柠檬酸的化学清洗。结果表明，渗透通量回收率按水力清洗<3%w w ^-1柠檬酸<0.3%w w ^-1 NaOCl ≈0.3%w w ^{-1的顺序增加。}乙二胺四乙酸。膜清洗大大减少了残留生物膜层的厚度，并降低了其细菌浓度和对蒸汽压的抵抗力。清洗后渗透电导率较低，表明所采用的清洗方案不会导致疏水性聚四氟乙烯微孔（0.22 μm）膜的孔润湿，并且膜截留性能保持稳定。