Operational optimization for the removal of Cryptosporidium oocyst surrogates in drinking water direct filtration processes: a multi-scale approach

隐孢子虫是一种水传播的原生动物病原体，通常存在于用作饮用水的地表水中。它对化学消毒剂有抵抗力，但对臭氧化和紫外线照射处理有抵抗力。过滤是饮用水设施中防止隐孢子虫的主要屏障。本CRD提案的总体目标是优化化学预处理和直接过滤处理，使用纳米，实验室和中试规模系统去除隐孢子虫。由于使用真实的隐孢子虫卵囊可能会造成公共卫生风险，因此将确定可靠的隐孢子虫替代物来评估中试规模的卵囊过滤。该调查将涉及多学科研究，结合来自环境工程小组的饮用水处理专业知识，来自化学工程小组的生物分子工程（都在阿尔伯塔大学），以及来自EPCOR的中试和全尺寸过滤器设计和操作。这些发现将导致改进水处理战略，评估水传播病原体去除的新方法，以及减少对公共卫生的风险。

Cryptosporidium is a waterborne protozoan pathogen often found in surface waters used as drinking water supplies. It is resistant to chemical disinfectants but succumbs to ozonation and ultraviolet irradiation treatments. Filtration is a major barrier against Cryptosporidium in drinking water utilities. The overall objective of this CRD proposal is to optimize chemical pretreatment and direct filtration treatment for Cryptosporidium removal using nano-, bench- and pilot-scale systems. Reliable Cryptosporidium surrogates will be identified to evaluate oocyst filtration at the pilot scale, because using actual Cryptosporidium oocysts could pose public health risks. The investigation will involve multidisciplinary studies combining expertise in drinking water treatment from the Environmental Engineering group, biomolecular engineering from the Chemical Engineering group (both at the University of Alberta), and pilot and full scale filter design and operation from EPCOR. The findings will lead to improved strategies for water treatment, new methods for evaluating the removal of waterborne pathogens, and a reduced risk to public health.