Research results from the group are published in leading journals in environmental engineering and water science, including: Water Research, Journal of Membrane Science, Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, and Particle Separation. These publications contribute to advancing the scientific understanding of membrane processes and improving the design and operation of water treatment systems.
A sample of recent publications is provided below. A complete list of publications is available on Google Scholar.
Long-term hydraulic performance and replacement forecasting of UF-PVDF membranes in water treatment
This publication introduces a data-driven framework to predict the long-term ageing and replacement timelines of ultrafiltration membranes used in drinking-water treatment. By integrating long-term operational data from multiple full-scale facilities with detailed analysis of harvested membrane fibers, the study demonstrates how membrane performance deterioration can be quantified and forecasted over time. The key innovation lies in linking real operational histories with predictive modelling of hydraulic resistance growth, enabling utilities to estimate membrane service life and plan replacement strategies more reliably. The work provides a practical tool for membrane asset management, helping utilities optimize maintenance, reduce uncertainty in infrastructure planning, and improve the long-term sustainability of membrane-based water treatment systems.
NOM foulant−hypochlorite interactions impact PVDF UF membrane ageing
This publication provides new mechanistic insight into how chemical cleaning accelerates ageing of PVDF ultrafiltration membranes used in drinking-water treatment. The study shows that interactions between natural organic matter (NOM) foulants and hypochlorite cleaning agents generate highly reactive radical oxidants—particularly hydroxyl radicals—that significantly accelerate membrane degradation. The key innovation is identifying this previously under-recognized reaction pathway and demonstrating that adding radical scavengers during cleaning can substantially mitigate membrane ageing. The work has important practical impact because it provides a new strategy to extend membrane lifespan and improve the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of membrane-based drinking-water treatment systems.
This publication reports the only long-term, full-scale demonstration of gravity-driven membrane filtration for drinking-water treatment, showing that this low-energy approach can reliably operate over multiple years. Using three years of operational data from a full-scale system, the study demonstrates stable treatment performance and consistent compliance with drinking-water quality targets while maintaining sustained permeability without chemical cleaning. The key innovation is the integration of passive hydraulic fouling control within a gravity-driven membrane system, enabling durable operation with minimal energy, infrastructure, or operator intervention. The work provides strong evidence that gravity-driven membrane filtration can serve as a practical and resilient treatment solution for small or remote communities, where conventional membrane systems are often too complex or resource-intensive.
This paper’s main innovation is showing—quantitatively and for the first time—how secondary treatment operating conditions (SBR hydraulic retention time and temperature) interact to control soluble microbial product (SMP) formation, and how those interactions then translate into reversible vs. irreversible fouling in downstream tertiary membrane filtration. Using SMP modelling and fouling resistance analysis, it demonstrates that changing HRT affects SMP fractions differently at cold vs. warm operation, and that filtration temperature can be the dominant driver of membrane resistance, especially under low-HRT conditions. The impact is a clearer, mechanism-based basis for designing and operating wastewater plants to stay within practical limits of fouling control under challenging (e.g., cold) conditions, improving reliability of tertiary membrane treatment.