Pilot scale evaluation of biofiltration as an innovative pre-treatment for ultrafiltration membranes for drinking water treatment

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Huck ◽  
S. Peldszus ◽  
C. Hallé ◽  
H. Ruiz ◽  
X. Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Membrane Unit ◽  
Ozone Addition ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Uf Membranes

Fouling remains one of the major constraints on the use of low pressure membranes in drinking water treatment. Work over the last few years has shown the importance of biopolymers (carbohydrates and protein-like material) as foulants for ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The purpose of this study was to investigate at pilot scale the use of rapid biofiltration (without prior coagulation or ozone addition) as an innovative pretreatment to reduce fouling of UF membranes. The investigation was carried out on a water with a higher than average DOC and significant temperature variation. The biofilters, each operated at a hydraulic loading of 5 m/h, had empty bed contact times of 5, 10 and 15 minutes. The membrane unit was operated at a flux equivalent to 60 LMH at 20°C. The investigation confirmed the encouraging results obtained in an earlier smaller scale study with essentially the same water. Increased biofiltration contact time (i.e. increased bed depth) led to lower rates of hydraulically irreversible fouling. The initial biofiltration backwash procedure, involving air scour as is common in chemically assisted filtration, led in some cases to an increased rate of membrane fouling immediately after the backwash. An alternative backwashing strategy was developed, however the feasibility of operating with this approach over very long periods of time needs to be confirmed. To assist in full-scale implementation of this “green” and simple pretreatment, the design and operating conditions for the biofilters should be optimized for various types of waters. It is expected that biofiltration pretreatment will be of particular interest for small and/or isolated systems where a higher initial capital cost may be acceptable because of operational simplicity and reduced chemical requirements.

Fouling of low-pressure membranes during drinking water treatment: effect of NOM components and biofiltration pretreatment

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Rahman ◽  
S. Ndiongue ◽  
X. Jin ◽  
M. I. Van Dyke ◽  
W. B. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Raw Water ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Detection Analysis

Fouling is a major challenge for low-pressure membrane drinking water treatment systems. Previous research has demonstrated that under the right conditions, biofiltration is an effective method to reduce fouling of low-pressure polymeric membranes. This study provides additional insight into the effect of biofiltration as a pretreatment for fouling reduction by using river water with different raw water quality characteristics than has been examined in previous studies. Two parallel pilot-scale dual media (sand/anthracite) biological filters were operated continuously over a period of 14 months. Liquid chromatography–organic carbon detection analysis confirmed that the parallel biofilters performed similarly with both averaging on 21% biopolymer removal. Raw and treated water biopolymer concentrations were correlated, with increased absolute removals occurring at higher raw water concentrations. Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling experiments showed substantial improvement in performance following biofiltration pretreatment by reducing hydraulically irreversible and reversible fouling rates by 14–68% and 8–55%, respectively. The results also reaffirm the importance of biopolymers at concentrations as low as ∼0.1 mg/L on irreversible and reversible UF membrane fouling and a minimal impact of humic substances.

Monitoring of biofouling on ultrafiltration hollow fiber membranes by rapid enzyme activity assays

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-156
Author(s):  
C. Sun ◽  
L. Fiksdal
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Hollow Fiber ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Peptidase Activity ◽  
Test Unit ◽  
Membrane Unit ◽  
Membrane Biofouling

The biofouling of an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane unit applied for drinking water treatment was investigated under three different operating conditions, i.e. flux 50, 60 and 70 L m−2 h−1. The biofouling was monitored by analyzing the enzyme (esterase and peptidase) activity on the sacrificed membrane fibers of a test unit installed in the same reactor as the membrane pilot module. At a given flux, a decrease of membrane permeability generally corresponded to an increase of enzyme activity. Enzyme activity could therefore be used to predict the permeability decline and potentially be used for e.g. at-line monitoring of membrane biofouling.

Comparison of Pre-Treatment Methods for Nanofiltration (NF) in Drinking Water Treatment Related with Organic Removal and Membrane Fouling Mitigation

2012 ◽  
Vol 599 ◽  
pp. 335-339
Author(s):  
Fei Yun Sun ◽  
Wen Yi Dong ◽  
Xi Guo
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Treatment Methods ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Organic Removal ◽  
Fouling Mitigation ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
The Cost

Nanofiltration is a promising technology for water engineering. However, membrane fouling is the major bottleneck for NF application. In this paper, four typical methods, in the drinking water treatment trains, were comprehensively studied for their effectiveness as NF pretreatments, based on the organic removal improvement and membrane fouling mitigation. It was found that coagulation and UF had stably higher removal efficiencies of organic matters, whilst showed quite better fouling mitigation capabilities than the other methods. According to the analysis of total resistance changes in the NF membrane, coagulation could decrease the irreversible resistance to some extent, and improve the fouling recovery potential. Notwithstanding, the enhancement of nitrogen components by all pre-treatment methods were limited, indicating that further treatment would be necessary. This result herein was very useful to understand the NF process for drinking water treatment, as well to elevate the cost-effectiveness of NF application.

Nanofiltration of colored surface water: Quebec's experience

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
P. Kouadio ◽  
M. Tétrault
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Quebec City ◽  
Water Regulation ◽  
Eastern Canada

Three colored surface water nanofiltration pilot-scale projects were conducted in the province of Quebec (eastern Canada), between November 2000 and March 2002, by the company H2O Innovation (2000) inc., for the municipalities of Lac Bouchette, Latulipe-et-Gaboury and Charlesbourg (now part of Quebec City). Results indicated that nanofiltration permeate quality has an advance on present drinking water regulation standard in Quebec, but important membrane fouling occurred. Fouling can be controlled by pretreatment and optimization of the operating conditions.

scholarly journals The Role of Catalytic Ozonation Processes on the Elimination of DBPs and Their Precursors in Drinking Water Treatment

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 521
Author(s):  
Fernando J. Beltrán ◽  
Ana Rey ◽  
Olga Gimeno
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Humic Substances ◽  
Hypochlorous Acid ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Disinfection Byproducts ◽  
Catalytic Ozonation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Halogen Compounds ◽  
Radiation Sources

Formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water treatment (DWT) as a result of pathogen removal has always been an issue of special attention in the preparation of safe water. DBPs are formed by the action of oxidant-disinfectant chemicals, mainly chlorine derivatives (chlorine, hypochlorous acid, chloramines, etc.), that react with natural organic matter (NOM), mainly humic substances. DBPs are usually refractory to oxidation, mainly due to the presence of halogen compounds so that advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are a recommended option to deal with their removal. In this work, the application of catalytic ozonation processes (with and without the simultaneous presence of radiation), moderately recent AOPs, for the removal of humic substances (NOM), also called DBPs precursors, and DBPs themselves is reviewed. First, a short history about the use of disinfectants in DWT, DBPs formation discovery and alternative oxidants used is presented. Then, sections are dedicated to conventional AOPs applied to remove DBPs and their precursors to finalize with the description of principal research achievements found in the literature about application of catalytic ozonation processes. In this sense, aspects such as operating conditions, reactors used, radiation sources applied in their case, kinetics and mechanisms are reviewed.

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