The continuous use of chlorine and chloramines can
adversely affect reverse osmosis or nanofiltration
membranes used in water treatment processes. However,
no models were available to predict change in
membrane performance over time. This work introduces
a mass loading model to predict membrane water quality
over time of operation. The model correlates solute mass
transfer coefficients (MTCs) to initial solute MTCs,
solute charge, feedwater temperature, monochloramine
loading, and organic loading. In a 2,000-hour pilot
study, the model was tested using a highly organic and
brackish surface water. Four different thin-film-composite
low-pressure reverse osmosis membranes were tested,
and separate models were developed for all membranes.
Results indicated that given reasonable assumptions of
parameters, the models provided accurate predictions of
membrane performance and replacement. This solute
mass transfer model can be used to predict permeate
water quality and sensitivity of permeate water quality
to variations in temperature and organic and monocloramine
mass loading. It should prove a valuable tool for
water utilities by offering a systematic method of predicting
performance that is applicable to all surface
waters. Includes 26 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. 96 - No. 12 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 310 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 8 |
| Published : | 12/01/2004 |
