Final Summary and Lessons Learned from WateReuse-08-08: Evaluation of MF MBR-O_3-RO and UF-UV/H_2O_2-RO Systems for Water Reuse

摘要

The WateReuse Research Foundation project 08-08 ("Pilot-Scale Oxidative Technologies for Reducing Fouling Potential in Water Reuse and Drinking Water Treatment Membrane Systems") will have been completed by February, 2012 and has been continuously piloting two reuse trains incorporating ozone or UV/peroxide as a pre-treatment to reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for organic fouling control. This study was part of an on-going Tailored Collaboration funded by WateReuse Research Foundation that was commissioned in 2008 to study the impact of oxidation processes on organic fouling of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane treatment systems for water reuse. The two pilot locations in Las Vegas allowed us to evaluate a membrane bioreactor (MBR, Hydranautics) - ozone (O_3) (HiPOx, APTwater) - RO system and a ultrafiltration (GE/Zenon ZeeWeed 500c) - UV/H_2O_2 (UV Photox, TrojanUV) - RO system to evaluate impacts on effluent organic matter (EfOM) and the removal of trace organic contaminants (TOrCs), including NDMA and pharmaceuticals/personal care products (PPCPs). The data in this talk will summarize the major project findings and implications for future design, including a discussion of the energy costs associated with oxidative pretreatment and the potential energy and cost savings by reduced maintenance cycles on RO system. A thorough cost/benefit analysis will highlight the key water quality features where a pre-oxidation strategy may have the highest potential for real cost and energy savings and will highlight potential pitfalls for oxidative pre-treatment in water reuse applications. Further, we will outline future directions of research that may be useful directions for minimizing membrane cleaning frequency, improving efficiency, and extending the useful life of RO membranes in water reuse systems.