Application of pulsed UV-irradiation and pre-coagulation to control ultrafiltration membrane fouling in the treatment of micro-polluted surface water.
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Yu, W
Campos, LC
Graham, N
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A major cause of ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling is the accumulation of microorganisms and their associated soluble products. To mitigate fouling the application of pulsed short-wavelength ultraviolet (UVC) light (around 254 nm) within the membrane tank together with pre-coagulation was investigated. In mini-pilot-scale tests carried out in parallel with conventional pre-treatment (CUF), the impact of pulsed UV (CUF-UV) at different UV irradiances and fluxes on the increase of trans-membrane pressure (TMP) was evaluated and explained in terms of the quantity and nature of membrane deposits in the membrane cake layer and pores. The results indicated that at a flux of 20 L m(-2) h(-1), the pulsed UV (1 min within 31 min cycle) at 3.17 × 10(-2) W/cm(2) prevented any measureable increase in TMP over a period of 32 days, while there was a fourfold increase in TMP for the conventional pre-treatment. For the CUF-UV system the concentration of bacteria and soluble microbial products was much less than the conventional CUF system, and the cake layer was thinner and contained less biopolymers (proteins and polysaccharides). In addition, the pores of the CUF-UV membrane appeared to have less organic deposits, and particularly fractions with a high molecular weight (>10 kDa). At a lower UV irradiance (1.08 × 10(-2) W/cm(2)), or higher flux (40 L m(-2) h(-1)) with the same UV irradiance, there was a measurable increase in TMP, indicating some fouling of the CUF-UV membrane, but the rate of TMP development was significantly lower (∼50%) than the conventional CUF membrane system. Overall, the results show the potential advantages of applying intermittent (pulsed) UVC irradiation with coagulation to control UF membrane fouling.
Date Issued
2016-10-23
Date Acceptance
2016-10-22
Citation
Water Research, 2016, 107, pp.83-92
ISSN
1879-2448
Publisher
IWA Publishing
Start Page
83
End Page
92
Journal / Book Title
Water Research
Volume
107
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open Access under a Creative Commons license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Identifier
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27837735
PII: S0043-1354(16)30811-9
Grant Number
PIIF-GA-2012-328867
144356 (EP/N010124/1)
Subjects
Coagulation
Membrane fouling
UVC light
Ultrafiltration
Water treatment
Environmental Engineering
MD Multidisciplinary
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England