Transport of nanoparticles with dispersant through biofilm coated drinking water sand filters.
This article characterizes, experimentally and theoretically, the transport and retention of engineered nanoparticles (NP) through sand filters at drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) under realistic conditions. The transport of four commonly used NPs (ZnO, CeO2, TiO2, and Ag, with bare surfaces and coating agents) through filter beds filled with sands from either acid washed and calcined, freshly acquired filter media, and used filter media from active filter media, were investigated. The study was conducted using water obtained upstream of the sand filter at DWTP. The results have shown that capping agents have a determinant importance in the colloidal stability and transport of NPs through the different filter media. The presence of the biofilm in used filter media increased adsorption of NPs but its effects in retaining capped NPs was less significant. The data was used to build a mathematical model based on the advection-dispersion equation. The model was used to simulate the performance of a scale-up sand filter and the effects on filtration cycle of traditional sand filtration system used in DWTPs.
Environmental Engineering Program, School of Energy, Environmental, Biological, and Medical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210012, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012, USA.
Zhen
Z
Li
Ashraf
A
Aly Hassan
Endalkachew
E
Sahle-Demessie
George A
GA
Sorial
D018441:Biofilms; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity
D060766:Drinking Water; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
Biofilm; Dispersant; Nanoparticles; Sand filter; Transport modeling