Nom Removal from Freshwater Supplies by Advanced Separation Technology

Abstract

Natural Organic Matter (NOM) present in drinking water supplies is not known to have any direct effects on human health; however, its reactivity with dissolved and particulate species significantly impacts on water quality and treatment needs. It is known nowadays that NOM can be removed by a variety of methods, including molecular sieving through nanofiltration membranes, coagulation with subsequent floc separation, oxidation followed by biofiltration and sorption processes including chemisorption (ion exchange), and physical adsorption (activated carbon). Evolution of water-related directives and more restrictive standards for drinking water, however, constitute the requirements for investigating new, more efficient and cost-effective treatment processesThe paper contains an overview on the state-of-the-art methods for NOM removal from supply waters, then describes a new technology, developed and patented by the research center of Veolia Environment, which effectiveness has been tested and validated on the supply water source of a plant located in Brittany (France).