Dr Pierre Le-Clech

Senior Lecturer, UNSW

Contact Information: Room 211, Applied Science Bldg The University of New South Wales Sydney, 2052, Australia Tel: +61-2-9385 5762 Fax: +61-2-9385 5966 E-mail: click here

Profile:

• Masters degree in Chemical Engineering (1999), Professional University Institute of Chemical Engineering, St Nazaire, France
• PhD in Treatment of domestic wasteswater with MBRs (2002), School of Water Sciences, Cranfield University, U.K.

• Post-doctorate Research Officer (2003), Institute of Environmental and Water Resource Management, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
• Visiting fellow (2003-2004), UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, UNSW, Sydney, Australia

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Research Interests:

With the cost of membranes still decreasing, the number of membrane applications in water and wastewater treatment keeps raising. The recent development of the MBR process indicates the current requirement for more efficient, compact and cost effective treatment systems. To avoid a crisis due to water shortage, many countries must conserve water, pollute less, and manage supply and demand. Recycled water could be a valuable resource to reduce both the wastewater discharges and the demand on high quality freshwater. Although many alternative treatment systems exist, increasing the public awareness to this new concept is still required. Fouling due to biofilm can occur in a wide range of applications ranging from medical devices to pipelines, reservoirs and membranes surfaces. The detection, characterisation and prevention of this unwanted biofilm are still under study. More specifically, the development of standard protocols for the identification and classification remains an important area of research. Sudden and severe fouling can occur in membrane module, making stable operation impossible to sustain, even after routine maintenance such as chemical cleaning. Membrane autopsies are then required to identify the failure causes and mechanisms (maintenance, operating, manufacturing problem) and to mitigate the problem.

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Selected Publications:

• Wu, J., Le-Clech, P., Stuetz, R.M., Fane, A.G. and Chen V. (2008) Novel filtration mode for fouling limitation in membrane bioreactors. Wat. Res. 42, 3677-3684.
• Wu, J., Le-Clech, P., Stuetz, R.M., Fane, A.G. and Chen V. (2008) Optimization of relaxation and backwashing conditions and their effects on fouling in membrane bioreactor. J. Memb. Sci. 324, 26-32.
• Marselina, Y., Le-Clech, P., Stuetz, R.M. and Chen V. (2008) Detailed characterisation of fouling deposition and removal on a hollow fibre membrane by direct observation technique. Desal. 231, 3-11.
• Negaresh, E., Le-Clech, P., and Chen, V, (2007) Fouling Mechanisms in Model Polymeric Substances. Asia- Pac. J. Chem. Eng. 2, 394 - 399.
• Metzger, U., Le-Clech, P., Stuetz, R., Frimmel, F.H. and Chen, V. (2007) Characterisation of biopolymeric fouling in membrane bioreactors and the effect of different filtration modes. J. Memb. Sci. 301, 180-189
• Le-Clech, P., Marselina, Y., Stuetz, R.M. and Chen, V. (2007) Non-destructive observation of carbohydrate fouling on microporous membranes. J. Memb. Sci. 290, 36-45.
• Le-Clech, P., Chen, V. and Fane, A.G. (2006) Fouling in membrane bioreactors used for wastewater treatment – A review. J. Memb. Sci. 284, 17-53.
• Le-Clech, P., Cao, Z., Wan, P.Y., Wiley, D.E. and Fane, A.G. (2006) The application of constant temperature anemometry to spiral wound membrane. J. Memb. Sci. 284, 416-423.

• Wu, J., Le-Clech, P., Chen V. and Stuetz, R.M. Effects of relaxation and backwashing conditions on fouling in membrane bioreactor. In: Proc. 6th IMSTEC Conference, November 2007, Sydney, Australia.
• Le-Clech, P., Metzger, U., Stuetz, R.M. and Chen, V. Modes of filtration for membrane bioreactor and resulting fouling. In: Proc. 4th IWA International Membrane Conference, Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment, May 2007, Harrogate, UK.
• Metzger, U., Le-Clech, P., Frimmel, F.H., Stuetz, R.M. and Chen, V. Composition of membrane fouling layers for different filtration modes in MBR. In: Proc. IWA Young Water Professional Conference, June 2007, Berlin, Germany.
• Marselina, Y., Le-Clech, P., Stuetz, R.M. and Chen, V. Detailed characterization of fouling deposition and removal on hollow fibre membrane by direct observation technique. In: Proc. 4th IWA International Membrane Conference, Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment, May 2007, Harrogate, UK.
• Negaresh, E., Le-Clech, P. and Chen, V. Fouling mechanisms of model extracellular polymeric substances. In: Proc. CHEMECA 2006, New Zealand.
• Le-Clech, P., Marselina, Y., Stuetz, R.M. and Chen, V. Fouling visualisation of solution modelling soluble microbial products in membrane bioreactors. In: Proc. Euromembrane 2006, September 2006, Taormina, Italy.

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