Applied Surface Science, Vol.434, 975-981, 2018
Simulation of foulant bioparticle topography based on Gaussian process and its implications for interface behavior research
Simulation of randomly rough bioparticle surface is crucial to better understand and control interface behaviors and membrane fouling. Pursuing literature indicated a lack of effective method for simulating random rough bioparticle surface. In this study, a new method which combines Gaussian distribution, Fourier transform, spectrum method and coordinate transformation was proposed to simulate surface topography of foulant bioparticles in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The natural surface of a foulant bioparticle was found to be irregular and randomly rough. The topography simulated by the new method was quite similar to that of real foulant bioparticles. Moreover, the simulated topography of foulant bioparticles was critically affected by parameters correlation length (1) and root mean square (sigma). The new method proposed in this study shows notable superiority over the conventional methods for simulation of randomly rough foulant bioparticles. The ease, facility and fitness of the new method point towards potential applications in interface behaviors and membrane fouling research. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Surface topography;Membrane fouling;Interfacial interaction;Interface behaviour;Membrane bioreactor;Sludge