Comparative Evaluation of Aluminum Sulfate and Ferric Sulfate-Induced Coagulations as Pretreatment of Microfiltration for Treatment of Surface Water

Yali Song, Bingzhi Dong, Naiyun Gao and Yang Deng
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Yali Song: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Bingzhi Dong: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Naiyun Gao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Yang Deng: Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Two coagulants, aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride, were tested to reduce natural organic matter (NOM) as a pretreatment prior to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration (MF) membranes for potable water treatment. The results showed that the two coagulants exhibited different treatment performance in NOM removal. Molecular weight (MW) distributions of NOM in the tested surface raw water were concentrated at 3–5 kDa and approximately 0.2 kDa. Regardless of the coagulant species and dosages, the removal of 0.2 kDa NOM molecules was limited. In contrast, NOM at 3–5 kDa were readily removed with increasing coagulant dosages. In particular, aluminum sulfate favorably removed NOM near 5 kDa, whereas ferric chloride tended to reduce 3 kDa organic substances. Although aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride could improve the flux of the ensuing MF treatment, the optimal coagulant dosages to achieve effective pretreatment were different: 2–30 mg/L for aluminum sulfate and >15 mg/L for ferric chloride. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the membrane-filtered coagulated raw water showed that coagulation efficiency dramatically affected membrane flux and that good coagulation properties can reduce membrane fouling.

Keywords: coagulation; microfiltration; membrane flux; organic matter; membrane fouling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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