title: Comparison of two PAC/UF processes for the removal of micropollutants from wastewater treatment plant effluent: process performance and removal efficiency.
abstract: Two hybrid membrane processes combining powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption with ultrafiltration (UF) were investigated regarding operational performance and efficiency to remove organic micropollutants from municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent. A pressurized PAC/UF (pPAC/UF) and a submerged PAC/UF (sPAK/UF) system were operated continuously over a period of six months. Both UF membrane systems showed good compatibility with the application of PAC showing no abrasion or other negative impacts. The pPAC/UF system reached permeability values up to 290 L/(m² h bar) at high fluxes of 80 L/(m² h) compared to the sPAC/UF with a permeability of up to 200 L/(m² h bar) at fluxes of up to 23 L/(m² h). Surface analysis of both membranes with scanning electron microscopy revealed no membrane deterioration after the six-month period of operation. On the surface of the pressurized membrane the formation of a PAC layer was observed, which may have contributed to the high permeability by forming a protective coating. Five micropollutants, i.e. sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, mecoprop, diclofenac and benzotriazole in ambient effluent concentrations were investigated. Both PAC/UF systems removed 60-95% of the selected micropollutants at a dosage of 20 mg PAC/L and 4 mg Fe(3+)/L. However, extreme peak loads of sulfamethoxazole with concentrations of up to 30 μg/L caused a considerable performance decrease for more than a week.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Löwenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zenker
authors.affiliation: WABAG Water Technology Ltd., Bürglistrasse 31, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baggenstos
authors.affiliation: Amt für Industrielle Betriebe, Canton Basel-Landschaft, Freulerstrasse 1, 4127 Birsfelden, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kazner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland. Electronic address: thomas.wintgens@fhnw.ch.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wintgens
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods*; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Advanced wastewater treatment; Organic micropollutants; PAC/UF; Pressurized ultrafiltration; Submerged ultrafiltration