Fouling phenomena in unit and hybrid processes for potable water treatment Original Research Article

Studies were carried out on the treatment of water for potable purposes using ceramic and capillary membranes. The studies involved the processes of unit microfiltration and ultrafiltration as well as hybrid processes, In the hybrid processes, adsorption on activated carbon and membrane separation was combined. Two types of activated carbon were applied: pulverized and granular. The activated carbon was from the Hajnöwka plant in Poland and the granular one was from the Chemviron Carbon firm in Belgium. The testing medium was natural water taken from the Vistula River. The membrane flux was assessed, and physico-chemical analyses of the selected water pollution indexes were carried out. The emphasis was placed on the fouling of the membranes during the treatment of natural waters. Therefore, the filtration of deionized water was carried out before and after each test on natural waters. In this way it was possible to determine the fouling of the membranes, its character and whether the fouling was reversible or irreversible. The studies also covered an evaluation of the influence of activated carbon on the yields and stabilization of permeate flux.