USFilter Participates In AWWARF- And Epa-Funded Study On Low-Pressure Membrane Fouling
"This research study will greatly improve our understanding of membrane fouling, which will result in defining better site-specific fouling control strategies through appropriate membrane selection, as well as effective pretreatment and cleaning," says Jerome Leparc, research engineer with the NATC's drinking water division.
Participating utilities include the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant and the Indianapolis Water Treatment Plant, which are both operated by USFilter. The plants will host pilot studies, offering a range of water qualities for testing the fouling effect on microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes.
During the study, the research team will investigate conditions contributing to NOM fouling of these low-pressure membrane systems. Researchers will also examine and quantify the impacts of NOM fouling on the microfiltration and ultrafiltration systems, using various pretreatment conditions and water qualities.
Fouling occurs in all pressure-driven membrane processes and can often limit implementing a full-scale membrane system. Although many types of materials accumulate on membranes during drinking water treatment processes, NOM fouling can cause irreversible accumulation, leading to long-term flux decline. To date, little research has been done on natural organic matter and membrane interactions in low-pressure systems because researchers used to think water-soluble molecules passed through microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes.
Dr. Chandra Mysore, director of the NATC's drinking water division, will oversee membrane pilot studies at the two USFilter-operated water facilities (Tampa Bay and Indianapolis). Based on the bench and pilot data, strategies for minimizing irreversible fouling caused by NOM will be recommended.
This is the fifth membrane-related project funded by the AWWARF and the U.S. EPA in which the NATC is participating. As with the most current study, the NATC is conducting pilot studies at various locations for the four other projects.
The North American Technology Center, a consortium of USFilter water experts, drives and fosters applied research and technology development in North America – bringing an unmatched water expertise to USFilter's municipal and industrial clients.
United States Filter Corporation, a Veolia Environnement company, is North America's leading water company providing comprehensive water and wastewater systems and services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Veolia Environnement (Paris Bourse: VIE and NYSE:VE) is the largest environmental services company in the world with more than 295,000 employees, including FCC, in about 100 countries and annual revenues of more than $31.5 billion. Visit the company's web sites at www.usfilter.com or www.veoliaenvironnement.com.
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