Effect of solution chemistry on assimilable organic carbon removal by nanofiltration: full and bench scale evaluation

Research Article| March 01 2002 Effect of solution chemistry on assimilable organic carbon removal by nanofiltration: full and bench scale evaluation I. C. Escobar; I. C. Escobar 1Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Toledo, 3055 Nitschke Hall—Mail Stop # 305, Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390, USA Tel: 419-530-8267 Fax: 419-530-8086; E-mail: Isabel.Escobar@utoledo.edu Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar A. A. Randall; A. A. Randall 2Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162450, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar S. K. Hong; S. K. Hong 2Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162450, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar J. S. Taylor J. S. Taylor 2Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162450, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2002) 51 (2): 67–76. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2002.0006 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation I. C. Escobar, A. A. Randall, S. K. Hong, J. S. Taylor; Effect of solution chemistry on assimilable organic carbon removal by nanofiltration: full and bench scale evaluation. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 March 2002; 51 (2): 67–76. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2002.0006 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex The effectiveness of nanofiltration (NF) to control assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC), the main indicators of biological stability of finished potable water, was systematically investigated at the 30,000 m3/day NF membrane plant located in Southern Florida. One year of full-scale operation showed that nanofiltration effectively reduced BDOC, but was not able to reject AOC. The insignificant AOC rejection observed was probably due to the low pH, high hardness, and high ionic strength (TDS) of the processing water. In order to verify this hypothesis, a series of well-controlled bench-scale experiments were conducted at simulated solution chemistries. The bench-scale study clearly demonstrated that AOC removal by NF membranes decreased markedly with decreasing pH (a 25% decrease in pH led to a 20% decrease in AOC removal), and increasing hardness (10-fold increase led to a 90% decrease in AOC removal) and ionic strength (a 25-fold increase led to a 50% decrease in AOC removal). These solution environments repress the electrostatic repulsion between charged AOC compounds and membranes, resulting in low AOC rejection. Lastly, an empirical model was statistically developed based on bench-scale data and utilized to estimate full-scale performance. AOC removal predicted by the model showed good agreement with values observed in full-scale operation (R2=0.98). assimilable organic carbon (AOC), biostability, nanofiltration, solution chemistry, zeta potential This content is only available as a PDF.