AWWA MTC64641

Application of ceramic membranes in water treatment has been limited mainly by high membrane prices and low packing densities. However, new ceramic membranes may overcome this limitation. A ceramic membrane by NGK Insulators Ltd., Japan currently competes in the drinking water treatment market. IWW Water Center, Germany, investigated the operational performance and economic feasibility of this ceramic membrane in a one year pilot study of direct river water treatment with the hybrid process of coagulation and microfiltration. The objective of this study was to investigate flux, recovery, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) retention performance and to determine optimum operating conditions of NGK's ceramic membrane filtration system with special regards to economical aspects. Temporarily, the performance of the ceramic membrane was challenged under adverse conditions. During pilot plant operation, river water with turbidities between 3 and 100 FNU was treated. Membrane flux was increased incrementally from 80 to 300 l/m²h resulting in recoveries between 95.9 and 98.9 %. A DOC removal between about 20 and 35 % was achieved. The pilot study and the subsequent economical evaluation showed the potential to provide a reliable and cost competitive process option for water treatment. The robustness of the ceramic membrane filtration process makes it attractive for a broad range of water treatment applications and, due to low maintenance requirements, also suitable for drinking water treatment in developing countries. Includes 7 references, figures.