Application of Submerged Nanofiltration Membrane for Treating Natural Organic Matter from Reservoir Water
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Surface water quality continues to be compromised by expanding residential and industrial activities. Chlorine is widely used in conventional treatment systems due to its low cost and availability; however, its reaction with natural organic matter (NOM) generates disinfection by-products (DBPs), particularly trihalomethanes, which are known as human carcinogens. Despite the increasing interest in nanofiltration (NF) membranes, studies on the application of submerged NF systems for treating real surface water without pretreatment remain limited, especially regarding trihalomethane precursor removal, ion rejection, and permeate stability. Comparative data with conventional treatment systems is also insufficient. This study investigates the performance of a submerged NF membrane relative to a conventional treatment system in a previous study for NOM removal. Water samples were collected every three days from Ang Kaew Reservoir, and the NF system was operated at a constant flux of 11 L/m²·h. All samples were analyzed at the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Chiang Mai University. The NF membrane achieved significant reductions in turbidity (93-98%), electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids (36-65%), UV254 (74-89%), dissolved organic carbon (68-80%), and trihalomethane formation potential (66.54%). In contrast, the conventional system exhibited limited ion removal and, in some cases, increased ion concentrations. These results indicate that submerged NF membranes offer superior ion rejection and effective control of DBP precursors, demonstrating their potential for producing high-quality drinking water from surface water under stable operating conditions.
Article Details
References
WHO. 2011. Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. 4(38). 104-8.
Richardson, S., Plewa, M., Wagner, E., Schoeny, R. and DeMarini, D. 2007. Occurrence, Genotoxicity, and Carcinogenicity of Regulated and Emerging Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water: A Review and Roadmap for Research. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research. 636(1-3): 178-242.
Hua, G. and Reckhow David, A. 2007. Characterization of Disinfection Byproduct Precursors Based on Hydrophobicity and Molecular Size. Environmental Science and Technology. 41(9): 3309-3315.
Sriboonnak, S., Induvesa, P., Wattanachira, S., Rakruam, P., Siyasukh, A., Pumas, C., Wongrueng, A. and Khan, E. 2021. Trihalomethanes in Water Supply System and Water Distribution Networks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18(17): 9066.
Bond, T., Goslan, E., Parsons, S. and Jefferson, B. 2011. Treatment of Disinfection By‐Product Precursors. Environmental Technology. 32(1): 1-25.
Golfinopoulos, S.K., Nikolaou, A.D. and Alexakis, D.E. 2024. Innovative Approaches for Minimizing Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) in Water Treatment: Challenges and Trends. Applied Sciences. 14(18): 8153.
Yang, J., Monnot, M., Ercolei, L. and Moulin, P. 2020. Membrane-Based Processes Used in Municipal Wastewater Treatment for Water Reuse: State-of-the-Art and Performance Analysis. Membranes. 10(6): 131.
Zheng, W., Chen, Y., Zhang, J., Peng, X., Xu, P., Niu, Y. and Dong, B. 2024. Control of Chlorination Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water by Combined Nanofiltration Process: A Case Study with Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids. Chemosphere. 358: 142121.
Hilal, N., Al-Zoubi, H., Darwish, N.A., Mohamma, A.W. and Arabi, A. 2004. A Comprehensive Review of Nanofiltration Membranes: Treatment, Pretreatment, Modelling, and Atomic Force Microscopy. Desalination. 170(3): 281-308.
Howe, K., Marwah, A., Chiu, K.-P. and Adham, S. 2006. Effect of Coagulation on the Size of MF and UF Membrane Foulants. Environmental Science and Technology. 40(24): 7908-7913.
Eriksson, P., Kyburz, M. and Pergande, W. 2005. NF Membrane Characteristics and Evaluation for Sea Water Processing Applications. Desalination. 184(1-3): 281-294.
Sentana, I., Rodríguez, M., Sentana, E., M'Birek, C. and Prats, D. 2010. Reduction of Disinfection By-Products in Natural Waters Using Nanofiltration Membranes. Desalination. 250(2): 702-706.
Fujioka, T., Ngo, M. T. T., Makabe, R., Ueyama, T., Takeuchi, H., Nga, T. T. V., Bui, X. and Tanaka, H. 2021. Submerged Nanofiltration without Pre-Treatment for Direct Advanced Drinking Water Treatment. Chemosphere. 265: 129056.
American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 1995. Published: American Public Health Association/ American Water Works Association/ Water Environment Federation 19th edition.
Hilal, N., Al-Abri, M., Al-Hinai, H. and Abu-Arabi, M. 2008. Characterization and Retention of NF Membranes Using PEG, HS and Polyelectrolytes. Desalination. 221(1-3): 284-293.
Boussu, K., Zhang, Y., Cocquyt, J., Van Der Meeren, P., Volodin, A., Van Haesendonck, C., Martens, J. and Van Der Bruggen, B. 2006. Characterization of Polymeric Nanofiltration Membranes for Systematic Analysis of Membrane Performance. Journal of Membrane Science. 278(1-2): 418-427.
Wang, J., Wang, G., Zhang, Z. and Hao, J. 2024. Characteristics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Removal by Nanofiltration with and without Coexisting Organics. Chemosphere. 352: 141426.
Gryta, M., Bastrzyk, J. and Lech, D. 2012. Evaluation of Fouling Potential of Nanofiltration Membranes Based on the Dynamic Contact Angle Measurements. Polish Journal of Chemical Technology. 14(3): 97-104.
Zhang, M., Liao, B.-q., Zhou, X., He, Y., Hong, H., Lin, H. and Chen, J. 2015. Effects of Hydrophilicity/Hydrophobicity of Membrane on Membrane Fouling in a Submerged Membrane Bioreactor. Bioresource Technology. 175: 59-67.
Choi, J.-H., Fukushi, K. and Yamamoto, K. 2008. A Study on the Removal of Organic Acids from Wastewaters Using Nanofiltration Membranes. Separation and Purification Technology. 59(1): 17-25.
Krasner, S.W., Westerhoff, P., Chen, B., Rittmann, B.E., Nam, S.-N. and Amy, G. 2009. Impact of Wastewater Treatment Processes on Organic Carbon, Organic Nitrogen, and DBP Precursors in Effluent Organic Matter. Environmental Science and Technology. 43(8): 2911-2918.
Edzwald, J.K. and Tobiason, J.E. 1999. Enhanced Coagulation: US Requirements and a Broader View. Water Science and Technology. 40(9): 63-70.
Maroufi, N. and Hajilary, N. 2023. Nanofiltration Membranes Types and Application in Water Treatment: A Review. Sustainable Water Resources Management. 9(5): 142.
Baker, R.W. 2023. Membrane Technology and Applications. Published: John Wiley & Sons.
Karabacak, A., Dilek, F.B., Yılmaz, L., Kitis, M. and Yetis, U. 2020. Sulfate Removal from Drinking Water by Commercially Available Nanofiltration Membranes: A Parametric Study. Desalination and Water Treatment. 205: 296-307.
Dubowski, Y., Greenberg-Eitan, R. and Rebhun, M. 2018. Removal of Trihalomethane Precursors by Nanofiltration in Low-SUVA Drinking Water. Water. 10(10): 1370.
Davis, S.N., Fabryka-Martin, J.T. and Wolfsberg, L.E. 2004. Variations of Bromide in Potable Ground Water in the United States. Ground Water. 42(6): 902-909.
Gang, D., Clevenger, T.E. and Banerji, S.K. 2003. Relationship of Chlorine Decay and THMs Formation to NOM Size. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 96(1): 1-12.
Albatrni, H., Qiblawey, H. and El-Naas, M.H. 2021. Comparative Study between Adsorption and Membrane Technologies for the Removal of Mercury. Separation and Purification Technology. 257: 117833.
Wong, H., Mok, K.M. and Fan, X.J. 2007. Natural Organic Matter and Formation Of Trihalomethanes In Two Water Treatment Processes. Desalination. 210(1-3): 44-51.
Łukasiewicz, E. 2025. Coagulation–Sedimentation in Water and Wastewater Treatment: Removal of Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, PFAS, Microplastics, and Natural Organic Matter. Water. 17(21): 3048.
Kiashemshaki, H., Mahvi, A.H., Najafpoor, A.A. and Hosseinzadeh, A. 2017. Investigation of the Efficiency of the Conventional Water Treatment Processes Employed to Eliminate TOC in Jalaliyeh Water Treatment Plant, Tehran. Health Scope. 6(4): e61907.
Tasdemir, E.B., Pardon, M., Rezaei Hosseinabadi, S., Rutgeerts, L.A., Cabooter, D. and Vankelecom, I.F. 2025. Selection of Optimal Nanofiltration/Reverse Osmosis (NF/RO) Membranes for the Removal of Organic Micropollutants from Drinking Water. Membranes. 15(6): 183.
Knap-Bałdyga, A. and Żubrowska-Sudoł, M. 2023. Natural Organic Matter Removal in Surface Water Treatment via Coagulation—Current Issues, Potential Solutions, and New Findings. Sustainability. 15(18): 13853.
Ho, N.A.D., Bui, A.K. and Babel, S. 2023. Removal of Natural Organic Matter from Water by Coagulation and Flocculation to Mitigate the Formation of Chlorine-Disinfection By-Products at the Thu Duc Water Treatment Plant in Vietnam. Science and Technology Asia. 142-157.
Wibuloutai, J., Hanrin, W., Phumphim, N., Huangboon, T., Thitisutthi, S. and Mahaweerawat, U. 2020. Trihalomethane Presence in Tap Water, Mahasarakham Province, Thailand. Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. 11(3): 2039-2044.
Suksaroj, C., Rattanamanee, P., Musikavong, C. and Wattanachira, S. 2009. The Determination of Tryptophan and Humic and Fulvic Acid-Like Substances Reduction in Raw Water from U-Tapao Basin Thailand with Alum Coagulation. Water Practice and Technology. 4(2): wpt2009022.
