Efficiency of membrane processes for taste and odor removal.

The occurrence of tastes and odors (T&O) in drinking water is considered as one of the main problems by the drinking water companies. Thus, several treatment processes were developed over the years to control T&O including air stripping, activated carbon and oxidation using ozone. However, little information is available in the literature on the use of membranes for T&O removal. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to present potential of membrane processes for removal of taste and odor causing compounds. Several membranes were tested including ultrafiltration (UF), UF combined with powdered activated carbon (PAC), nanofiltration (NF) and low pressure reverse osmosis (LP RO) membranes. The results of this study indicate that the combination of UF with PAC is effective for T&O control whereas the benefit of NF and LP RO remains unclear for T&O control.     

净水厂应对突发乙苯污染的应急处理中试研究

乙苯是净水厂原水突发水质污染的高风险物质之一.通过中试研究了应对原水突发乙苯污染的应急处理工艺.结果表明,常规工艺难以去除水中乙苯,向原水中投加粉末活性炭(PAC)与强化常规工艺联用可有效去除水中乙苯,保证处理后水质达到《生活饮用水卫生标准》(GB 5749-2006)要求;PAC与原水混合阶段是乙苯去除的主要阶段,去除率为78.9％～97.4％,强化常规工艺可进一步去除水中低浓度乙苯,颗粒活性炭滤柱作为安全余量,是水质安全保障的最后关口.基于中试结果,给出了应对原水突发乙苯污染时PAC对乙苯的吸附能力.     

Drinking water production by coagulation-microfiltration and adsorption-ultrafiltration

Microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) pilot plants were operated to produce drinking water from surface water from 1992 to 1996. Microfiltration was combined with pre-coagulation by polyaluminium chloride and was operated in a dead-end mode using hollow fiber polypropylene and monolith type ceramic membranes. Ultrafiltration pilot was operated in both cross-flow and dead-end modes using hollow fiber cellulose acetate membrane and was combined occasionally with powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption. Turbidity in the raw water varied in the range between 1 and 100 mg/L (as standard Kaolin) and was removed almost completely in all MF and UF pilot plants to less than 0.1 mg/L. MF and UF removed metals such as iron, manganese and aluminium well. The background organics in the river water measured as KMnO₄ demand varied in the range between 3 and 16 mg/L. KMnO₄ demand decreased to less than 2 mg/L and to less than 3 mg/L on the average by the coagulation-MF process and the sole UF process, respectively. Combination of PAC or GAC adsorption with UF resulted in an increased removal of the background organics and the trihalomethanes formation potential as well as the micropollutants such as pesticides. Filtration flux was controlled in the range between 1.5 and 2.5 m/day with the trans-membrane pressure less than 100 kPa in most cases for MF and UF. The average water recovery varied from 99 to 85%.     

水中三种典型含氮有机物的活性炭吸附特性研究

利用三种类型活性炭(粉末炭PAC、活性炭纤维ACF、颗粒活性炭GAC),对三种典型含氮有机物(色氨酸、腺嘌呤和三聚氰胺)的吸附容量和吸附速率开展了研究。研究表明:PAC与ACF对色氨酸具有较高的吸附容量,吸附等温线符合Langmuir模型,拟二级动力学模型能够很好反应吸附速率变化;GAC吸附色氨酸等温线符合BET模型,其吸附速率变化符合内扩散模型。ACF与GAC对腺嘌呤均具有较高的吸附容量,其吸附等温线符合Freundlich模型,拟二级动力学能较好地反应了吸附速率的变化;而PAC对腺嘌呤的吸附更符合Langmuir模型,吸附速率变化同样符合拟二级模型。三种活性炭对三聚氰胺的吸附均大致符合BET模型,在低于液相饱和浓度条件下,三种炭的三聚氰胺吸附容量均较小,三种炭吸附三聚氰胺速率的变化都符合拟二级动力学模型。     

吴淞江微污染水源水处理工艺的比较研究

采用预臭氧生物活性炭滤池、生物接触预氧化、PAC吸附预处理三种工艺对吴淞江微污染水源水处理进行研究;常温下,臭氧投加量2 mg/L,预臭氧生物活性炭滤池对氨氮的去除率维持在70%以上,出水NH3-N约1 mg/L,CODMn平均去除率34.16%;生物接触预氧化对氨氮去除率可达80%以上,但CODMn平均去除率只有7.6%;PAC对色度及臭味有良好的去除效果,但对其他物质去除率较低.三种工艺相比,作为水厂改造或备用应急方案,预臭氧生物活性炭滤池为最佳选择.     

Long term operation of high concentration powdered activated carbon membrane bio-reactor for advanced water treatment.

A pilot scale experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a membrane bioreactor filled with high concentration powdered activated carbon. This hybrid system has great potential to substitute for existing GAC or O3/BAC processes in the drinking water treatment train. The system was installed at a water treatment plant located downstream of the Nakdong river basin, Korea. Effluent of rapid sand filter was used as influent of the system which consists of PAC bio-reactor, submerged MF membrane module and air supply facility. PAC concentration of 20 g/L was maintained at the beginning of the experiment and it was increased to 40 g/L. The PAC has not been changed during the operational periods. The membrane was a hollow fiber type with pore sizes of 0.1 and 0.4 microm. It was apparent that the high PAC concentration could prevent membrane fouling. 40 g/L PAC was more effective to reduce the filtration resistance than 20 g/L. At the flux of 0.36 m/d, TMP was maintained less than 40 kPa for about 3 months by intermittent suction type operation (12 min suction/3 min idling). Adsorption was the dominant role to remove DOC at the initial operational period. However the biological effect was gradually increased after around 3 months operation. Constant DOC removal could be maintained at about 40% without any trouble and then a tremendous reduction of DBPs (HAA5 and THM) higher than 85% was achieved. Full nitrification was observed at the controlled influent ammonia nitrogen concentration of 3 and 7 mg/L. pH was an important parameter to keep stable ammonia oxidation. From almost two years of operation, it is clear that the PAC membrane bioreactor is highly applicable for advanced water treatment under the recent situation of more stringent DBPs regulation in Korea.     

剩余臭氧影响活性炭净水效能原因分析

通过中试分析了长期运行条件下臭氧—活性炭工艺中溶解性臭氧对活性炭净水效能产生影响的原因。试验条件下活性炭对UV254的去除能力随剩余臭氧浓度的增加而下降。根据试验推测臭氧对活性炭的影响主要体现在3个方面:首先,在臭氧投加量较高时,NOM中亲水性有机物比例增加,此类物质在活性炭上的吸附性较差;其次,臭氧氧化降低了活性炭的吸附能力,同时臭氧可能与活性炭反应生成新的氧化产物;最后,臭氧可抑制活性炭上微生物的生长繁殖。因此建议在臭氧—活性炭工艺运行时严格控制进入活性炭吸附池的剩余臭氧浓度。     

粉末活性炭处理抗生素污染原水试验研究

探讨了粉末活性炭对抗生素的去除效果.在对水体中30种常见抗生素污染调研的基础上,选取萘啶酸、土霉素、林可霉素3种代表性抗生素进一步分析所需粉末活性炭的投加量.研究结果表明:当污染物在1 mg/L时,粉末活性炭的投加量分别为115 mg/L(萘啶酸)、75 mg/L(土霉素)、25mg/L(林可霉素),去除率均在99％以上,并根据其他抗生素的吸附难易度,推导出在相同污染程度下粉末活性炭的投加量;当原水中出现小于1 μg/L的持续性污染时,粉末活性炭的投加量应保持在1～35 mg/L,以保证稳定高效的去除效果.     

Advanced treatment of benzothiazole contaminated waters: comparison of O3, AC, and O3/AC processes.

Benzothiazole (BT) is a toxic and poorly biodegradable contaminant, usually found in wastewater from rubber related applications. This compound could be effectively eliminated using advanced treatment processes. This paper compares experimental results on detoxification systems based on ozone oxidation, activated carbon adsorption, and simultaneous adsorption-oxidation using ozone in the presence of activated carbon. The effect of pH (2-11), and the presence of radical scavengers (tert-butyl alcohol and sodium carbonate) on process rates and removal efficiencies are assessed at laboratory scale. The experimental system consisted of a 1 L differential circular flow reactor and an ozone generator rated at 5 g O3/h. Results show that ozone oxidation combined with activated carbon adsorption increases the overall BT oxidation rate with respect to the ozonation process and activated carbon adsorption. In the presence of free radical scavenger, only a 44% reduction in BT removal rate is observed in the simultaneous treatment, as compared with 72% when ozonation treatment is used, suggesting that BT oxidation reactions mainly take place on the activated carbon surface.     

不同预处理方式与微滤联用处理城市污水对比实验研究

采用微滤法处理模拟二沉池出水,以期达到城市污水回用的目的.进水采用人工配水,主要考察微滤膜对模拟二沉池出水中CODMn,氨氮(NH3-N)及UV254的去除效果,以及预处理方式对微滤膜处理工艺的影响.实验主要采用了两种预处理方式,即颗粒活性炭(GAC)吸附及聚合氯化铝(PAC)混凝.实验结果表明,单独采用微滤膜效果不明显,高锰酸钾指数的去除率仅为32.5%,氨氯去除率约为5%,且膜污染严重,通量下降很快.活性炭-微滤组合工艺对污水的CODMn去除效果较好,去除率达到88%;而混凝-徽滤工艺对UV254的去除效果较好,去除率达到87%;混凝-微滤及活性炭-微滤工艺对氨氮的去除率均不高.组合工艺比起单独使用微滤膜流量下降缓慢,混凝-徽滤工艺在4.5h内,流量没有下降,污染情况明显改善.     

Evaluating ozone dose for AOC removal in two-step GAC filters

Upgrading an existing post-ozonation plant with two-step granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration for assimilable organic carbon (AOC) removal was studied. The effects of ozone dose on AOC formation and its removal in the subsequent two-step GAC filtration was studied using chemically pretreated 2 to 14° C humic lake water. Two parallel pilot-plant trains with different ozone doses (0 to 1.2 mgO₃/mgTOC) and a shortterm ozonation study were performed. The optimum ozone dose for maximum AOC formation was 0.4–0.5 mgO₃/mgTOC. The AOC-P17 of ozonated water was three-fold higher and AOC-NOX over ten-fold higher than in non-ozonated water, while the following biofiltration (first step) removed 51 % and 72 % of AOC-P17 and AOC-NOX, respectively. The adsorber (second step) contributed to less than 10% of the overall AOC reduction. It appeared that biofiltration is a feasible method in upgrading water treatment plants for AOC removal even when treating cold humic waters, while the subsequent adsorber seems to have less significance for AOC removal.     

Removal of bromate and assimilable organic carbon from drinking water using granular activated carbon.

This study investigated the feasibility of using granular activated carbon (GAC) to remove bromate ion (BrO3-) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) from drinking water through a rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) method and a pilot-scale study. Results from RSSCT indicated that the GAC capacity for BrO3- removal was dependent on the GAC type, empty bed contact time (EBCT), and source water quality. The GAC with a high number of basic groups and higher pHpzc values showed an increased BrO3- removal capacity. BrO3- removal was improved by increasing EBCT. The high EBCT provides a greater opportunity for BrO3- to be adsorbed and reduced to Br- on the GAC surface. On the other hand, the presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and anions, such as chloride, bromide, and sulfate, resulted in poor BrO3- reduction. In the GAC pilot plant, a GAC column preloaded for 12 months achieved a BrO3- and AOC removal range from 79-96% and 41-75%, respectively. The BrO3- amount removed was found to be proportional to the influent BrO3- concentration. However, the BrO3- removal rate apparently decreased with increasing operation time. In contrast, the AOC apparently increased during the long-term operation period. This may be a result of the contribution due to new GAC being gradually transformed into biological activated carbon (BAC), and the bacterial biomass adsorbed on GAC surface hindering BrO3- reduction by GAC either by blocking pores or adsorbing at the activated sites for BrO3- reduction.     

Application of biological activated carbon anaerobic reactor for treatment of hazardous chemicals.

An expanded-bed anaerobic reactor with granular activated carbon (GAC) medium has been developed to treat wastewaters that contain a high concentration of inhibitory and/or refractory organic compounds as well as readily degradable organic compounds. The process is characterised by a combination of two removal mechanisms; adsorption on GAC and biological degradation by microorganisms grown on GAC. Applicability of the reactor to treatment of phenol, chloroacetaldehyde (CAA), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was discussed based on experimental data. All chemicals focused on here were removed well and stably at a removal efficiency of more than 98% even during starting operation and shock load operation. Chemicals in influent that exceeded biological degradation capacity was initially adsorbed on GAC and then gradually degraded, and hence the adsorptive capacity of GAC was regenerated biologically. These results proved that a biological activated carbon anaerobic reactor was effective for treatment of wastewater containing hazardous chemicals, especially for strongly absorbable chemicals, as well as readily degradable organic compounds at high concentration.     

Reuse of carwash wastewater with hollow fiber membrane aided by enhanced coagulation and activated carbon treatments.

The particles from carwash wastewater were separated by a hollow fiber membrane aided by a enhanced coagulation and activated carbon. This study demonstrated that the addition of KMnO(4) to coagulant (PAC) could enhance the efficiency of coagulation, which helped reduce clogging of the ultrafiltration membrane and activated carbon. The existence of LAS can loosen the gel layer on the membrane and improve the flux. Adsorption of particles such as organic matter and oil is the main reason causing membrane flux decrease. When carwash wastewater was pretreated, the permeation flux of membrane showed a higher value. LAS, odour and colour are removed by GAC adsorption treatment at last. The COD, BOD, LAS and oil of reuse water was 33.4 mg/L, 4.8 mg/L, 0.06 mg/L and 0.95 mg/L, respectively.     

Catalyzed ozonation process with GAC and metal doped-GAC for removing organic pollutants.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the catalytic role of granular activated carbon (GAC), and metal (Mn or Fe) doped-GAC, on the transformation of ozone into more reactive secondary radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals (*OH), for the treatment of wastewater. The GAC doped with Mn showed the highest catalytic performance in terms of ozone decomposition into OH radicals. Likewise, activated carbon alone accelerated the ozone decomposition, resulting in the formation of *OH radicals. In the presence of promoters, the ozone depletion rate was enhanced further by the Mn-GAC catalyst system, even under aqueous acidic pH conditions.     

Rapid adsorption pretreatment with submicrometre powdered activated carbon particles before microfiltration.

Manufacturer-supplied powdered activated carbon (PAC) was ground to produce submicrometre particles (0.8 and 0.6 m median diameter) for use as an adsorbent before microfiltration (MF) for drinking water treatment. Batch tests revealed that the microground PAC adsorbed natural organic matter (NOM) much more rapidly and had a higher adsorptive capacity than ordinary PAC. The water samples pretreated with the submicrometre PAC were subjected to MF, and the results of experiments with different PAC contact times revealed that a 1 min retention time was sufficient for adsorptive removal of NOM. The use of submicrometre PAC permitted not only shorter PAC contact times but also a 75% reduction in dose.     

Treatment of taste and odor material by oxidation and adsorption.

Massive blooms of blue-green algae in reservoirs produce the musty-earthy taste and odor, which are caused by compounds such as 2-MIB and geosmin. 2-MIB and geosmin are rarely removed by conventional water treatment. Their presence in the drinking water, even at low levels (ng/L), can be detected and it creates consumer complaints. So those concentrations have to be controlled as low as possible in the drinking water. The removals by oxidation (O3, Cl2, ClO2) and adsorption (PAC, filter/adsorber) were studied at laboratory and pilot plant (50 m3/d) to select suitable 2-MIB and geosmin treatment processes. The following conclusions were derived from the study. Both of the threshold odor levels for 2-MIB and geosmin appeared to be 30 ng/L as a consequence of a lab test. For any given PAC dosage in a jar-test, removal efficiencies of 2-MIB and geosmin were increased in proportion to PAC dosage and were independent of their initial concentration in raw water for the tested PAC dosages. In comparison of geosmin with 2-MIB, the adsorption efficiency of geosmin by PAC was superior to that of 2-MIB. The required PAC dosages to control below the threshold odor level were 30 mg/L for geosmin and 50 mg/L for 2-MIB at 100 ng/L of initial concentration. Removal efficiencies of odor materials by Cl2, ClO2, and O3 were very weak under the limited dosage (1.5 mg/L), however increased ozone dosage (3.8 mg O3/L) showed high removal efficiency (84.8% for 2-MIB) at contact time 6.4 minutes. According to the initial concentrations of 2-MIB and geosmin, their removal efficiencies by filter/adsorber differed from 25.7% to 88.4%. For all those, however, remaining concentrations of target materials in finished waters were maintained below 30 ng/L. The longer run-time given for the filter/adsorber, the higher the effluent concentration generated. So it is necessary that the run-time of the filter/adsorber be decreased, when 2-MIB or geosmin occurs in raw water.     

Disinfection by-products and microbial contamination in the treatment of pool water with granular activated carbon.

For swimming pools, it is generally agreed that free chlorine levels have to be maintained to guarantee adequate disinfection. Recommended free chlorine levels can vary between 0.3 and 0.6 mg/L in Germany and up to 3 mg/L in other countries. Bathers introduce considerable amounts of organic matter, mainly in the form of such as urine and sweat, into the pool water. As a consequence, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are formed. Regulations in Germany recommend levels of combined chlorine of less than 0.2 mg/L and levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) of less than 20 microg/L. Haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), chloropicrin and chloral hydrate are also detected in considerable amounts. However, these compounds are not regulated yet. Swimming pool staff and swimmers, especially athletes, are primarily exposed to these byproducts by inhalation and/or dermal uptake. In Germany, new regulations for swimming pool water treatment generally require the use of activated carbon. In this project, three different types of granular activated carbon (GAC) (one standard GAC, two catalytic GACs) are compared for their long time behaviour in pool water treatment. In a pilot plant operated with real swimming pool water, production and removal of disinfection byproducts (THMs, HAAs, AOXs), of biodegradable substances (AOC), of bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella, coliforms, HPC) as well as the removal of chlorine and chloramines are monitored as function of GAC bed depth. Combined chlorine penetrates deeper in the filter bed than free chlorine does. However, both, free and combined chlorine removal efficiencies decrease over the time of filter operation. The decreases of removal efficiencies are also observed for parameters such as dissolved organic carbon, spectral absorption coefficient, adsorbable organic carbon and most of the disinfection byproducts. However, THMs, especially chloroform are produced in the filter bed. The GAC beds were contaminated microbially, especially with P. aeruginosa. The contamination was not removable by backwashing with chlorine concentrations up to 2 mg/l free chlorine.     

采用活性炭强化常规处理原水突发油类污染的研究

中试研究表明,常规处理(混凝—沉淀—过滤)可以将含油约为10mg/L的原水处理达标,并且除油率不受混凝剂投加量的影响。油污染浓度为7.2～18mg/L的原水经混凝沉淀去除的效率基本相同。20mg/L的油污染仅通过常规处理无法达标,需采用投加粉末活性炭(PAC)的强化混凝或颗粒活性炭(GAC)的强化过滤,即投加40mg/L的PAC,或在过滤阶段铺40cmGAC层的炭砂滤柱。KMnO4和Cl2的预氧化对除油效果无影响。     

臭氧与活性炭深度处理微污染原水试验研究

采用"预臭氧氧化 常规处理 GAC/O3-BAC深度处理"工艺针对南方某市微污染原水进行中试研究.结果表明:预臭氧能明显提高浊度、有机物和THMFP的去除效果,在此条件下常规出水浊度平均值＜O.1 NTU,与无预处理相比,CODMn去除率提高17.52%,氯消毒后CHCl3浓度降低86.4%;O3-BAC工艺对有机物、CHCl3的去除效果和吸附寿命均优于GAC工艺,但生物膜的脱落会影响浊度的去除效果;随着炭床厚度增加,GAC滤池中,CODMn呈线性降低,而BAC滤池中,上部500～1 000 mm厚度内,CODMn快速降低并稳定在一定的水平上.