Characterization of membrane foulants in a pilot-scale powdered activated carbon–membrane bioreactor for drinking 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 µm. 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.

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Presence of powdered activated carbon/zeolite layer on the performances of gravity-driven membrane (GDM) system for drinking water treatment: Ammonia removal and flux stabilization

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149415 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 149415

Author(s):

An Ding ◽

Ruilin Song ◽

Hao Cui ◽

Haiyan Cao ◽

Huu Hao Ngo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Ammonia Removal ◽

Powdered Activated Carbon ◽

Gravity Driven

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Modeling of equilibrium and kinetics of chlorobenzene (CB) adsorption onto powdered activated carbon (PAC) for drinking water treatment

Desalination and Water Treatment ◽

10.1080/19443994.2012.691746 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 44 (1-3) ◽

pp. 245-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ming-li Lin ◽

Zhi-wei Zhao ◽

Fu-yi Cui ◽

Sherngji Xia

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Powdered Activated Carbon ◽

Equilibrium And Kinetics ◽

Kinetics Of

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Pilot-scale UV/H2O2-BAC process for drinking water treatment – Analysis and comparison of different activated carbon columns

Chemical Engineering Journal ◽

10.1016/j.cej.2019.123044 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 382 ◽

pp. 123044 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhenqi Du ◽

Ruibao Jia ◽

Congcong Li ◽

Pengwei Cui ◽

Wuchang Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Treatment Analysis

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Removal of radio N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) from drinking water by coagulation and Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) adsorption

Drinking Water Engineering and Science Discussions ◽

10.5194/dwesd-2-79-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 79-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Chung ◽

Y. Yoon ◽

M. Kim ◽

S.-B. Lee ◽

H.-J. Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Background Electrolyte ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Powdered Activated Carbon ◽

Individual Treatment ◽

Solution Ph ◽

Treatment Processes

Abstract. The presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in drinking water supplies has raised concern over its removal by common drinking water treatment processes. A simple detection method based on scintillation spectroscopy has been used to quantify the concentration of 14C-labeled NDMA at various ratios of sample to scintillation liquid. Without sample pretreatment, the method detection limits are 0.91, 0.98, 1.23, and 1.45 ng/L of NDMA at scintillation intensity ratios of 10:10, 5:15, 15:5, and 2.5:17.5 (sample: scintillation liquid), respectively. The scintillation intensity in all cases is linear (R2>0.99) and is in the range of 0 to 100 ng/L of NDMA. In addition, because scintillation intensity is independent of solution pH, conductivity, and background electrolyte ion types, a separate calibration curve is unnecessary for NDMA samples at different solution conditions. Bench-scale experiments were performed to simulate individual treatment processes, which include coagulation and adsorption by powdered activated carbon (PAC), as used in a drinking water treatment plant, and biosorption, a technique used in biological treatment of waste water. The commonly used coagulation process for particulate control and biosorption is ineffective for removing NDMA (<10% by coagulation and <20% by biosorption). However, high doses of PAC may be applied to remove NDMA.

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Assessing biofilm on biofilter media (granular activated carbon and anthracite) from a pilot scale drinking water treatment plant

10.32920/ryerson.14648484.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nick Dimas

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment Plant ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Microbial Biofilms ◽

Attachment Sites

Drinking Water Treatment Plants employ biofiltration systems to increase water quality through nutrient reduction. Microbial biofilms housed in biofilter media, are responsible for nutrient uptake and biodegradation. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the function and efficiency of biofilter media and investigate seasonal changes in the microbial populations. TOC and DO were more reduced in Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) media than in anthracite. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) were conducted to establish seasonal trends on microbial population. PCR-amplified 16S rRNA fragments were sequenced to compare microbial communities. Summer samples have higher HPC than winter samples. Summer samples yielded a reduction in microbial diversity and no detectable overlap with winter samples. Confocal microscopy conducted to qualitatively visualize the structure of biofilms was complemented by quantitative COMSTAT analysis showing GAC with double the biomass due to a greater level of attachment sites. GAC outcompetes anthracite in chemical adsorption and biological activity.

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