Effects of coconut granular activated carbon pretreatment on membrane filtration in a gravitational driven process to improve drinking water quality.
This study evaluates the performance of a polymeric microfiltration membrane, as well as its combination with a coconut granular activated carbon (GAC) pretreatment, in a gravitational filtration module, to improve the quality of water destined to human consumption. The proposed membrane and adsorbent were thoroughly characterized using instrumental techniques, such as contact angle, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The applied processes (membrane and GAC + membrane) were evaluated regarding permeate flux, fouling percentage, pH and removal of Escherichia coli, colour, turbidity and free chlorine. The obtained results for filtrations with and without GAC pretreatment were similar in terms of water quality. GAC pretreatment ensured higher chlorine removals, as well as higher initial permeate fluxes. This system, applying GAC as a pretreatment and a gravitational driven membrane filtration, could be considered as an alternative point-of-use treatment for water destined for human consumption.
State University of Maringá, Chemical Engineering Department, Maringá, Brazil.
Flávia Vieira
FV
da Silva
Natália Ueda
NU
Yamaguchi
Gilselaine Afonso
GA
Lovato
Fernando Alves
FA
da Silva
Miria Hespanhol Miranda
MH
Reis
Maria Teresa Pessoa Sousa
MT
de Amorim
Célia Regina Granhen
CR
Tavares
Rosângela
R
Bergamasco
D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D006112:Gravitation; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D060753:Water Quality
D060766:Drinking Water; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014873:Water Pollutants; D002606:Charcoal