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Application of hybrid coagulation–ultrafiltration for decentralized drinking water treatment: impact on flux, water quality and costs

  • Arhin, S. G. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • Banadda, N. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, 1340 Elings Hall, Ames, IA, 50011-32700, USA
  • Komakech, A. J. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
  • Pronk, W. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • Marks, S. J. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
  • 2019-7-5
Published in:
  • Water Supply. - IWA Publishing. - 2019, vol. 19, no. 7, p. 2163-2171
Water Science and Technology
English Abstract
Decentralized membrane-based water treatment represents an attractive and viable approach to safe water supply in low-income areas, but its widespread adoption requires cost-effective antifouling strategies. Although the antifouling mechanisms of Al-based coagulants have been widely investigated, there is little data about their impact on costs and treatment efficiency for decentralized membrane-based systems. In this study, a comparative assessment of two decentralized ultrafiltration (UF) units with and without polyaluminum chloride (PACl) coagulation was undertaken to evaluate the influence of coagulation on the fouling, water quality, and costs nexus. The results showed that PACl suppressed both total fouling and hydraulically irreversible fouling. A matched-pair analysis also revealed that PACl improved the permeate quality by enhancing the removal of particulates and dissolved organics. Compared with the conventional UF system, the hybrid coagulation–UF system contributed to a 21% increase in the flux rate, allowing for a 27% reduction in membrane area and thus, providing cost benefits in terms of both capital and operating costs. These results suggest that PACl coagulation is potentially a cost-effective antifouling method for decentralized membrane-based water systems.
Language
  • English
Open access status
hybrid
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https://sonar.ch/global/documents/139674
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