UF/NF Treatment of Organic Laden Wastewater in Industrial Pulp and Paper Wastewater

A nanofiltration membrane was successful in removing color ina highly colored wastewater from a pulp and paper plant. Initial lab trials with this color removal NF membrane and plant wastewater proved that the color could be removed at high recoveries, but when trialed at the plant, it was found that the NF elements readily fouled. Further experiments proved that very fine colloidal material was the cause of the fouling. A UF pretreatment system was instituted prior to the NF membrane, and resolved the fouling problem.