The relationship between membrane and foulant in filtration of high DOC and hardness waters

加拿大的许多供水设施不能满足关于可能致癌的氯消毒副产品--三卤甲烷(THMS)的规定。纳滤作为一种能满足日益严格的水质法规和THMS标准的方法，已被广泛应用于饮用水处理中。然而，这种方法的一个主要问题是纳滤器污染，粗略地定义为由于在膜表面形成不想要的沉积物(即污染层)而造成的性能损失和工厂运行成本的增加。许多地表水源，特别是在加拿大大草原，含有高浓度的主要膜污染物。因此，了解污垢和污垢控制的机理对于该地区的水处理系统的设计者和拥有者来说是非常重要的。拟议研究的总体目标是通过延长膜系统的运行寿命来控制膜污染并显著降低膜系统的运行成本。该项目是通过使用膜技术改善水质和减少三氯甲烷的全球战略的一部分。在这项提案中，我将通过使用新的膜尸检方法调查膜和污物之间的关系来解决这一目标，这些方法适用于用于过滤具有挑战性的地表水的膜。确定膜过滤器污染的机理将支持这笔赠款的合作伙伴(WSP加拿大公司)在开发延长过滤器寿命的战略方面，这将导致这笔赠款的另一个合作伙伴(Pembina Valley Water Coop)每年节省数百万美元。和其他市政当局。目前，在对膜过滤最具挑战性的水域上运营的加拿大工厂的所有者就膜尸检和控制膜污染的方法咨询国际公司。两名理科硕士在本次研究期间，将对两名本科生进行培训。这些学生将获得加拿大水处理行业迫切需要的一套独特的技能，特别是在使用膜生产饮用水的应用中。

Many water facilities in Canada are not able to meet the regulations governing potentially carcinogenic chlorine disinfection by-products- Trihalomethanes (THMs). Nanofiltration has become widely used in potable water treatment as a method that can meet increasingly stringent water quality regulations and THMs standards. However, a major problem with this approach is nanofilter fouling, which is loosely defined as the loss of performance and increase in plant operation cost due to formation of undesirable deposits (i.e. fouling layer) on the membrane surface. Many surface water sources, especially in the Canadian Prairies, contain major membrane foulants in high concentrations. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of fouling and fouling control is of utmost interest to the designers and owners of water treatment systems located in this region. The overall objective of the proposed research is to control membrane fouling and significantly reduce operating costs of membrane systems by increasing their operational life. This project is a part of a global strategy to improve water quality and decrease THMs by the use of membrane technology. In this proposal, I will address this objective by investigating the relationship between the membrane and foulant using new membrane autopsy methods that are applicable to membranes used for filtration of challenging surface waters. Determining the mechanism of membrane filter fouling will support the partner on this grant (WSP Canada Inc.) in development of strategies that increase filter life, which will result in millions of dollars in savings each year to another partner on this grant (Pembina Valley Water Coop.) and other municipalities. Currently, owners of Canadian plants operating on waters most challenging to membrane filtration consult with international companies on membrane autopsies and methods to control membrane fouling. Two M.Sc. and two undergraduate students will be trained during this research. These students will obtain a unique set of skills that is urgently needed in the Canadian water treatment industry, particularly in applications where membranes are being used to produce drinking water.