Membrane Filtration of Colloidal Activated Carbon: Considerations for Optimization of Head Loss Reduction and Small Molecule

This paper describes the use of microfiltration membrane for the filtration of colloidal activated carbon. Efforts were made to minimize head loss and small molecule adsorption. The effects of source water quality and particle size were evaluated. The presence of natural organic matter (NOM) proved to be a confounding factor. Two methods were tested for improving filtration flux: chemical coagulation and membrane modification using surfactants.