title: Simultaneous removal of phosphorus and EfOM using MIEX, coagulation, and low-pressure membrane filtration.
abstract: The feasibility of using magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) treatment, in-line alum coagulation, and low-pressure membrane filtration was investigated for the simultaneous removal of total phosphorus (TP) and effluent organic matter (EfOM) from biologically treated wastewater. The focus was also placed on minimizing fouling of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyethersulfone membranes, which are the most commonly used low-pressure membranes in new and retrofit wastewater treatment plants. MIEX alone was effective for the removal of EfOM, and MIEX plus a small alum dose was very effective in removing both EfOM and TP. MIEX removed phosphorus, but organic acids in EfOM were preferentially removed, and the effects of competing anions on the removal of EfOM were insignificant. All the pretreatment strategies decreased the resistance to filtration. The greatest decrease in fouling was achieved by using MIEX (15 mL L⁻¹) plus a very low dose of alum (∼0.5 mg Al L⁻¹). Sweep floc coagulation using alum and without MIEX also significantly decreased fouling but did not effectively remove EfOM and produced high floc volume that could be problematic for inside-out hollow-fibre modules. The addition of these reagents into rapid mix followed by membrane filtration would provide operational simplicity and could be easily retrofitted at existing membrane filtration facilities.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Hyun-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: b US Army Center for Environmental Health Research , Fort Detrick , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Timmes
authors.affiliation: a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dempsey
mesh_terms: D005374:Filtration; D007474:Ion Exchange; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010758:Phosphorus; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: EfOM; in-line coagulation; magnetic ion exchange; membrane filtration; phosphorus