Characterizations of NOM included in NF and UF membrane permeates Original Research Article

The characteristic changes in the natural organic matter (NOM), from the feed to the permeate, due to nanofiltration (NF) and tight-ultrafiltration (UF), were investigated in terms of size (molecular weight), structure (hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions), and functionality (charge density in terms of carboxylic acidity). These characteristic changes were expected to be associated with the reactivity of the disinfection by-products (DBP), fractions of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC), and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) relative to the total organic carbon. The BDOC and AOC analyses demonstrated that the NOM included in the NF and tight-UF permeates were more biodegradable than those included in the feed waters, which were relatively hydrophilic and smaller, than those in the feed waters. The influence of the hydrodynamic operating condition in terms of the J0/k ratio on the characteristics of the NOM included in the NF and tight-UF permeates was also demonstrated. In addition, the effects of the pH, ionic strength, and calcium ions on the specific UV absorbance (SUVA) values of the NOM in each of the feed and permeate waters, were demonstrated for a better understanding of the above characteristic changes, and to determine the applicability of the SUVA analysis for the characterization of the NOM.