AWWA MTC57622

This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of current hybrid membrane-sorption (HMS) processes including recent research illuminating key limiting mechanisms. When possible, simple modifications to current HMS process operating protocols are suggested to address some of the limitations. However, several of the disadvantages of the current HMS processes are not resolvable without going to a different reactor configuration. Subsequently, this paper introduces a novel HMS process configuration that has great promise and would resolve many of the current limitations while maintaining the key advantages. This new HMS process consists of an upflow bed of adsorption media situated directly below or adjacent to a low-pressure membrane system. The upflow bed can be pulsed to remove spent adsorbent from the bottom while fresh or regenerated adsorbent can be added at the top of the bed. The proposed HMS process is abbreviated as UFGACC-UF, which stands for Upflow Filter with Granular Adsorbent moving Countercurrent Continuously - UltraFiltration. Includes 19 references, tables, figures.