Coupled Oxidant-Membrane Processes for Decreased Fouling and Enhanced Flux in Water Reclamation Application

Water reuse has become an important research topic for water resource and water treatment professionals in recent decades. Water reuse is quickly being accepted as one strategy that can be used to augment limited water supplies for water-stressed regions. There are already several municipalities using potable reuse as a part of their water portfolio (US EPA, 2012) and many others investigating the practice in anticipation of future application. How water is treated for reuse can vary widely based on the quality of the reclaimed water source and the intended purpose of reuse of finished water. For instance, water reclaimed for irrigation does not need the same level of treatment as water intended for potable reuse. The contaminants of concern for removal in domestic wastewater are very different than those found in water reclaimed from a food processing operation. This patchwork of standards and range of applications means a variety of treatment technologies and treatment trains will be required to fulfill the range of treatment objectives for reuse applications. Therefore robust, reliable treatment technologies must be developed and validated for the treatment of reuse waters. The combination of several treatment technologies into a multibarrier treatment train is a common practice for water reuse, and this approach is usually stipulated by water reuse guidelines. An ideal water reuse treatment train would combine the well-established benefits of membrane separation and advanced oxidation while limiting membrane fouling and energy consumption. Such an approach would ideally be used in combination with other water treatment technologies to provide the multiple treatment barriers required by law and to fine-tune water quality to the end users’ needs.

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