Citation: Yuan Huang, Suhua Gu, Haiqing Chang, Bo Lai. Mechanisms of membrane fouling alleviation by Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅵ)-activated sodium sulfite pretreatment in membrane distillation[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(10): 112476. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112476 shu

Mechanisms of membrane fouling alleviation by Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅵ)-activated sodium sulfite pretreatment in membrane distillation

Yuan Huang ^{a, b, 1} ,
Suhua Gu ^{a, b, 1} ,
Haiqing Chang ^{a, b, *,} ,
Bo Lai ^b

a.
State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
b.
College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610207, China

changingchq@126.com

Received Date: 16 October 2025
Revised Date: 26 January 2026
Accepted Date: 28 January 2026
Available Online: 17 July 2026

Figures(6)

Membrane distillation (MD) suffers from severe fouling when treating high-salinity and high-organic shale gas produced water (SGPW). This study introduces a Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅵ)-activated sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) pretreatment that generates sulfate radicals with high pH tolerance and strong organic degradation capacity. The process achieved total organic carbon (TOC) removals of 17.82% (Fe(Ⅱ)) and 13.83% (Fe(Ⅵ)) and maintained MD flux at 80.95%-85.70% of the initial value, while permeate conductivity decreased by 23.46% and 28.74%. Pollutant deposition decreased by 44.32% and 61.79%, with liquid entry pressure recovering to 89.20% and 90.86% of original value. Scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed significant fouling layer reduction and maintained membrane hydrophobicity. Mechanistic studies indicate pretreatment optimizes fouling behavior by regulating organic concentration, hydrophilic/hydrophobic distribution, and coagulation efficiency. This work provides an efficient, low-cost green pretreatment for SGPW and deepens understanding of multi-mechanism fouling control by Na₂SO₃ oxidation.
- Membrane distillation (MD),
- Shale gas produced water (SGPW),
- Sodium sulfite,
- Membrane fouling,
- Thermal activation
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