Pilot plant comparison study of two commercial nanofiltration membranes in a drinking water treatment plant

• Published in: Desalination and water treatment Vol. 51; no. 1-3; pp. 448 - 457
• Main Authors: Ribera, Gemma, Llenas, Laia, Rovira, Miquel, de Pablo, Joan, Martinez-Llado, Xavier
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding Publication
• Language: English
• Published: L'Aquila Elsevier Inc 01-01-2013; Desalination Publications; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aigua; Applied sciences; Depuració; Desenvolupament humà i sostenible; Drinking water; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; Drinking water treatment units; Enginyeria ambiental; Enginyeria química; ESNA1LF2; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic salts; Laboratories; Membrane permeability; Membranes; Nanofiltration; NF270; Organic chemistry; Permeability; Pilot plant; Pilot plants; Pollution; Precursors; Química de l'aigua; Química del medi ambient; Rejection; Removal; Seasons; Spiral-wound modules; Tractament de l'aigua; Trihalomethane formation potential; Trihalomethanes; Ultrafiltració; Water quality; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Water treatment plants; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Europe; Spain; Pilot plant; Nanofiltration; Drinking water; Spiral-wound modules; ESNA1LF2; NF270; Trihalomethane formation potential; Chlorination; Reaction product; Pollutant formation; Trihalomethane; Secondary pollutant; Organic halogen compounds; Membrane separation; Halogenated hydrocarbon; Drinking water treatment plant; Water quality; Comparative study; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 1944-3986; 1944-3994; 1944-3986
• DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2012.714528

A wide range of commercial membranes were tested and compared at laboratory scale in order to select the most appropriate for improving the final water quality of a real drinking water treatment plant (DWTP). Most of the membranes tested showed a reduction of trihalomethanes formation potential (THMFP) higher than 90%. In this work, several NF membranes were tested at laboratory scale in order to evaluate the most suitable NF membrane to reduce THMFP. NF270 (Dow Chemical) and ESNA1LF2 (Hydranautics) were finally selected based on their permeability and inorganic salt rejection. These two membranes were tested in parallel in a pilot-scale plant. The effectiveness in THMPF removal was evident for all membranes tested. The comparison of both membranes was carried out simultaneously in a pilot plant installed in the DWTP of Manresa. In the spiral wound configuration, both membranes also showed effective separation of trihalomethanes (THM) precursors, reducing THMFP in treated water at values of approximately 90%, depending on the season.