Anion exchange pretreatment for the removal of natural organic matter from humic rich water

The treatment of humic rich water using anion exchange, coagulation and PAC-adsorption was studied, both independently and in sequence in that order. The commercial aluminium-based coagulant PAX-16, powdered activated carbon W35 and the magnetic ion exchange resin (MIEX^®) were used in the study. The source of humic substances was natural water (25.0 g C/m³ as DOC) flowing out from the Great Batorow Peat-Bog (Lower Silesia, Poland). In addition to DOC, color, UV₂₅₄ absorbance, specific UV absorbance (SUVA₂₅₄), turbidity, pH and alkalinity were also analyzed. Regardless of the applied technology, in the phase of raw water treatment extraordinary solutions were necessary to treat the humic rich water – a high coagulant (13.1 g Al/m³) or PAC (>200 mg/dm³) dose or a low bed volume (200 BVs) in the case of anion exchange. MIEX^®DOC pretreatment had a very positive influence on the course and effects of coagulation resulting in a higher coagulant efficiency for removing organic compounds. In this respect, MIEX^®DOC pretreatment allowed the application of a required coagulant dose four times lower compared to the coagulation of raw water. In testing the sequence of processes (MIEX^®DOC – coagulation – PAC-adsorption), coagulation was the main process responsible for reducing the SUVA₂₅₄ value. The improvement in water quality after PAC-adsorption was not significant, although the process removed DOC fractions that could not be removed by coagulation. Each of the applied methods played a role in the treatment of humic rich water and the nearly complete removal of NOM was achieved (in the sequence of processes) under relatively rational operating conditions for the treatment techniques.