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.
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Research Article|
December 11 2013
Fouling of low-pressure membranes during drinking water treatment: effect of NOM components and biofiltration pretreatment Available to Purchase
I. Rahman;
1NSERC Chair in Water Treatment, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
E-mail: [email protected]
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S. Ndiongue;
S. Ndiongue
2Walkerton Clean Water Centre, Walkerton, ON, Canada N0G 2V0
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X. Jin;
X. Jin
2Walkerton Clean Water Centre, Walkerton, ON, Canada N0G 2V0
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M. I. Van Dyke;
M. I. Van Dyke
1NSERC Chair in Water Treatment, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
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W. B. Anderson;
W. B. Anderson
1NSERC Chair in Water Treatment, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
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P. M. Huck
P. M. Huck
1NSERC Chair in Water Treatment, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
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Water Supply (2014) 14 (3): 453–460.
Article history
Received:
August 13 2013
Accepted:
November 27 2013
Citation
I. Rahman, S. Ndiongue, X. Jin, M. I. Van Dyke, W. B. Anderson, P. M. Huck; Fouling of low-pressure membranes during drinking water treatment: effect of NOM components and biofiltration pretreatment. Water Supply 1 June 2014; 14 (3): 453–460. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2013.221
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