Combined use of resin fractionation and high performance size exclusion chromatography for characterization of natural organic matter.

The number and complexity of natural organic matter (NOM) species limits identification of individual NOM compounds. The objective of this study was to employ several characterization techniques (resin fractionation, high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), and strategic UV254 absorbance) to samples from seven surface water sites in North America, and overcome the shortfalls of each tool. Resin fractionation indicated the samples were all high in hydrophobic acids (HOA), hydrophilic neutrals (HIN) and hydrophilic acids (HIA).

Photocatalytic oxidation of DBP precursors using UV with suspended and fixed TiO2.

French River water (Nova Scotia, Canada) was separated into six different natural organic matter (NOM) fractions, including hydrophobic acids, bases and neutrals and hydrophilic acids, bases and neutrals. The raw water, as well as each of the NOM fractions were analysed for disinfection by-product (DBP) formation potential before and after advanced oxidation with UV/TiO(2) to determine the efficacy of this treatment for the removal of DBP precursors. The UV/TiO(2) treatment was carried out with a nanostructured thin film (NSTF), coated with TiO(2) which is compared with the use of a TiO(2) suspension.

Addressing reverse osmosis fouling within water reclamation--a side-by-side comparison of low-pressure membrane pretreatments.

A tertiary membrane filtration (TMF) pilot operating on secondary effluent and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) were setup in a side-by-side study as pretreatments for two identical reverse osmosis pilot systems. The water quality of the permeate from both low-pressure membrane pretreatment systems and the fouling rate of the reverse osmosis systems were compared to assess the capabilities of the two low-pressure membrane pretreatments to prevent organic fouling of the reverse osmosis systems. Both pretreatment pilots were setup using typical operating conditions (i.

Effects of total suspended solids loading on short-term fouling in the treatment of secondary effluent by an immersed ultrafiltration pilot system.

This study examined the performance of a pilot-scale immersed ultrafiltration system using secondary effluent as a feed source, with particular emphasis on the role played by total suspended solids (TSS) on short-term fouling rates within permeation cycles. Key secondary effluent quality characteristics, such as ionic composition and total/ colloidal organic carbon content, remained reasonably stable during the course of the study. However, TSS loads in the secondary effluent were correlated with the extent of within-cycle fouling.