Ozone oxidation for the alleviation of membrane fouling by natural organic matter: A review

Membrane fouling by natural organic matter is one of the main problems that slow down the application of membrane technology in water treatment. O-3 is able to efficiently change the physico-chemical characteristics of natural organic matter in order to reduce membrane fouling. This paper presents the state-of-the-art knowledge of the reaction mechanisms between natural organic matter and molecular O-3 or OH radicals, together with an in-depth discussion of the interactions between natural organic matter and membranes that govern membrane fouling, inclusive the effect of O-3 oxidation on it. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.