One-Step Ceramic Membrane Process for Small Drinking Water Treatment Facilities

A one-step filtration process has been proposed for the removal of turbidity, microorganisms, and THMFP for small drinking water treatment facilities. The essence of the proposed technology is the use of a low cost/high performance ceramic membrane to accomplish the above filtration objectives economically and reliably. Thus, disinfection of drinking water can be accomplished with no chemical addition and sludge generation. The commonly encountered operational problems associated with membrane filtration can be overcome with the proposed membrane and process. Ceramic membranes with a suitable oxide material and pore size will be selected in conjunction with the development of an operational strategy to control the fouling potential. Biofilm formation also can be eliminated with the proposed process scheme. Preliminary economic analysis based upon the feasibility test results indicated both capital and operating costs comparable with existing polymeric membrane systems. More importantly, the proposed process can deliver the treated water that meets federal regulations in a single one-step operation. The proposed Phase I study will continue the existing bench-scale study with a focus on long-term operational stability, system optimization, and operating economics. If successfully developed, the proposed technology and process could be used at more than 37,000 small to mid-sized water utilities in the United States that provide less than 50,000 gpd of drinking water to the public. In addition, the proposed process also can be implemented for disinfection of secondary effluent from sewage treatment plants as an alternative for post-disinfection.