DOI 10.35776/MNP.2019.12.08
UDC 628.16:62-278

Kofman V. Ya.

Gravity membrane filtration in water and wastewater treatment schemes (a review)

Summary

Gravity membrane filtration technology involves the use of flat polymer ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes with pore sizes from several nanometers to several hundred nanometers submerged in water at 40-100 cm, i.e. operating under a hydrostatic head of 40–100 mbar as a driving force of the membrane filtration in deadlock mode. The bacterial community of the source water induces the formation of a biofilm layer on the membrane surface. At the same time, the presence of eukaryotes in the biofilm layer that are characterized by predatory behavior produces a kind of “biological purification” effect that provides for decreasing the filtration resistance of the biofilm due to the formation of voids and development of its heterogeneity. As a result of the dynamic development of such a system, its sustainability and relative continuity of the permeate flow at the level of 2–10 l/(m2·h) are achieved. Sustainable water flow in the gravity membrane filtration mode is maintained for many months without cleaning the membrane. The system ensures the removal of organic substances and pathogenic microorganisms from water. Different-scale testing of the gravity membrane filtration system has been carried out: for decentralized river water treatment, for stormwater and gray wastewater treatment in local treatment systems to produce water suitable for non-potable consumption, in wastewater treatment for safe discharge, and for seawater pretreatment before desalination. Currently, examples of the practical application of this filtration system are known.

Key words

ultrafiltration , water treatment , organic substances , pathogens , gravity membrane filtration , deadlock mode

Скачать/download (PDF) free access

REFERENCES

1. Pronk W., Ding A., Morgenroth E., et al. Gravity-driven membrane filtration for water and wastewater treatment: A review. Water Research, 2019, v. 149, pp. 553–565.
2. Peter-Verbanets M., Hammes F., Vital M., Pronk W. Stabilization of flux during dead-end ultra-low pressure ultrafiltration. Water Research, 2010, v. 44, pp. 3607–3616.
3. Klein T., Zihlmann D., Derlon N., et al. Biological control of biofilms on membranes by metazoans. Water Research, 2016, v. 88, pp. 20–29.
4. Wu B., Christen T., Tan H. S., et al. Improved performance of gravity driven membrane filtration for seawater pretreatment: implications of membrane module configuration. Water Research, 2017, v. 114, pp. 59–68.
5. Field R. W., Pearce G. K. Critical, sustainable and threshold fluxes for membrane filtration with water industry applications. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2011, v. 164, pp. 38–44.
6. Wu B., Hochstrasser F., Akhondi E., et al. Optimization of gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration process for seawater pretreatment. Water Research, 2016, v. 93, pp. 133–140.
7. Fortunato L., Jeong S., Wang Y. R., et. al. Integrated approach to characterize fouling on a flat sheet membrane gravity driven submerged membrane bioreactor. Bioresource Technology, 2016, v. 222, pp. 335–343.
8. Klein T., Zihlmann D., Derlon N., et al. Biological control of biofilms on membranes by metazoans. Water Research, 2016, v. 88, pp. 20–29.
9. Wu B., Suwarno S. R., Tan H. S., et al. Gravity-driven microfiltration pretreatment for reverse osmosis (RO) seawater desalination: microbial community characterization and RO performance. Desalination, 2017, v. 418, pp. 1–8.
10. Chomiak A., Sinnet B., Derlon N., Morgenroth E. Inorganic particles increase biofilm heterogeneity and enhance permeate flux. Water Research, 2014, v. 64, pp. 177–186.
11. Lee D., Lee Y., Choi S. S., et al. Effect of membrane property and feed water organic matter quality on long-term performance of the gravity-driven membrane filtration process. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2019, v. 26, pp. 1152–1162.
12. Derlon N., Peter-Varbanets M., Scheidegger A. Predation influences the structure of biofilm developed on ultrafiltration membranes. Water Research, 2012, v. 46, pp. 3323–3333.
13. Wu B., Hochstrasser F., Akhondi E., et al. Optimization of gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration process for seawater pretreatment. Water Research, 2016, v. 93, pp. 133–140.
14. Ding A., Wang J. L., Lin D. C., et al. Effects of GAC layer on the performance of gravity-driven membrane filtration (GDM) system for rainwater recycling. Chemosphere, 2019, v. 191, pp. 253–261.
15. Ding A., Wang J. L., Lin D. C., et al. In situ coagulation versus pre-coagulation for gravity-driven membrane bioreactor during decentralized sewage treatment: permeability stabilization, fouling layer formation and biological activity. Water Research, 2017, v. 126, pp. 197–207.
16. Tang X., Pronk W., Ding A., et al. Coupling GAC to ultra-low-pressure filtration to modify the biofouling layer and bio-community: flux enhancement and water quality improvement. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2017, v. 333, pp. 289–299.
17. Peter-Varbanets M., Margot J., Traber J., Pronk W. Mechanisms of membrane fouling during ultra-low pressure ultrafiltration. Journal of Membran Science, 2011, v. 377, pp. 42–53.
18. Ding A., Liang H., Li G., et al. A low energy gravity-driven membrane bioreactor system for grey water treatment: permeability and removal performance of organics. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, v. 542, pp. 408–417.
19. Frechen F.-B., Exler H., Romaker J., Schier W. Long-term behavior of a gravity-driven dead end membrane filtration unit for potable water supply in cases of disasters. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 2011, v. 11, pp. 39–44.