Hybrid water treatment process of carbon fiber microfiltration and photocatalyst-coated polypropylene beads: roles of humic acid, photo-oxidation, and adsorption

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of organic matters on membrane fouling was observed in a hybrid process of tubular carbon fiber microfiltration (MF) and polypropylene (PP) beads coated with TiO2 photocatalyst with periodic water back-flushing for advanced water treatment. Also, the treatment portions of membrane filtration, photocatalyst adsorption, and photo-oxidation were investigated by comparing the treatment efficiencies of (MF), (MF + TiO2), and (MF + TiO2 + UV) processes. The periodic water back-flushing was performed during 10 s per 10 min filtration to reduce membrane fouling. As results, the organic matter, such as humic acid (HA), could be one of the main factors affecting membrane fouling, because the resistance of membrane fouling (Rf) increased significantly as increasing HA concentration. The treatment efficiencies of turbidity increased a little; however, those of dissolved organic matters (DOM) increased dramatically as increasing HA. As a result of investigating the roles of membrane filtration, adso...