INDICATORS FOR NOM FOULING OF UF MEMBRANES

摘要

Different studies have demonstrated that NOM, composed of humic as well as non-humicrnsubstances, in natural water is a key membrane foulant. Nevertheless the complexity of NOMrnhas not allowed identification of the fraction or part of NOM that exactly causes membranernfouling. Several indicators are available to determine the NOM fouling potential of arnmembrane feedwater. These include, among others, UV absorbance at 254 nm (UVA254),rncolour, TOC, humic content, specific UVA254, liquid chromatography – organic carbonrndetection (LC-OCD), size exclusion chromatography – UVA ratio index (SEC-URI), SECfluorescence,rncolloid size, assimilable organic carbon (AOC), biofilm formation rate (BFR)rnand specific oxygen consumption rate (SOCR). However, NOM fouling rates do not appearrnto correlate with traditional water quality parameters such as color, UV absorbance or DOCrnconcentration, and pilot plant trials are still needed to determine the level of fouling thatrnwould occur for a particular membrane feed water.