Application of a PAC-membrane hybrid system for removal of organics from secondary sewage effluent: Experiments and modelling

As world supplies of clean, fresh water come under increasing pressure and the need for water reuse rises, membrane technology is becoming increasingly important as a possible solution. However, membrane fouling is a major obstacle to the successful operation of the membrane process in wastewater treatment. In this study, a submerged hollow-fiber membrane with powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption was investigated for the removal of organics from secondary sewage effluent from a sewage treatment plant. The use of PAC in the membrane system was found to be very effective, not only in removing refractory organics, but also in reducing membrane clogging. A simple mathematical model was developed to predict the effluent quality [in terms of total organic carbon (TOC)] of the submerged membrane-adsorption hybrid system.