A membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis (MBR-RO) system was developed to assess
potential reuse applications of municipal wastewater. The objective of the study was to
examine the water quality throughout the system with a focus on waterborne pathogens,
disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and nitrate. This study has demonstrated that the
treatment of municipal wastewater by an MBR-RO system followed by disinfection has
the potential to produce high quality reuse water. The reuse water produced by the MBRRO
system meets California Title 22 water reuse regulations for non-potable applications
and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking water limits for trihalomethanes (80 u g/L), haloacetic acids (60
u g/L), chlorite (1.0 mg/L), total coliform (not detectable), viruses (not detectable), and
nitrate/nitrite (10 mg N/L). However, THM formation (182 to 689 u g/L) due to
membrane cleaning with chlorine in the MBR and incomplete removal by subsequent RO
treatment resulted in reuse water THM levels that were high enough (53.6 degrees+/- 23.1 u g/L) to
present a potential concern in drinking water applications. Nitrate levels in the reuse
water of up to 3.6 mg N/L, which also resulted from incomplete removal by the RO
membrane, may also be a potential concern. A denitrification step in the MBR should be
considered if potable water applications are considered. Includes 8 references, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 370 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 6 |
| Published : | 03/01/2005 |
