Hybrid gravitational microfiltration system for drinking water purification

  • Natália Ueda Yamaguchi Centro Universitário de Maringá (Unicesumar), Maringá, PR, Brasil. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologias Limpas
  • Silvia Amélia Liwa Abe Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, PR, Brasil. Departamento de Engenharia Química
  • Flávia Vieira da Silva Medeiros Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campo Mourão, PR, Brasil
  • Angélica Marquetotti Salcedo Vieira Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, PR, Brasil. Departamento de Engenharia Química
  • Rosangela Bergamasco Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, PR, Brasil. Departamento de Engenharia Química
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.2047
Keywords: activated carbon, copper, Escherichia coli, membrane.

Abstract

This study evaluates the application of a polymeric microfiltration membrane in a gravitational filtration module and its combination with granular activated carbon (GAC) impregnated with copper, resulting in a hybrid process. The proposed system would be used to improve the quality of water for human consumption in developing countries.  Permeate flux, pH, Escherichia coli removal, color, turbidity and free chlorine removals were evaluated in the applied process. Instrumental techniques, such as N2 adsorption at 77 K, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses were used to characterize the proposed membrane and adsorbent. The GAC ensured higher chlorine removals, as well as higher permeate flux. Furthermore, the GAC impregnated with copper oxide nanoparticles exhibited higher Escherichia coli removal. Therefore, the hybrid gravitational membrane system applying GAC impregnated with copper oxide could be considered as a potential alternative point-of-use treatment to improve the quality of water for human consumption.


Published
22/02/2017
Issue
Vol. 12 No. 2 (2017)
Section
Papers

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