Membrane Pretreatment with Ion Exchange for Natural Organic Matter (NOM) Removal

Project ID: 536
Principal Investigator: Steve Dundorf
Research Topic: Desalination and Water Treatment
Priority Area Assignments: 2011 (Advanced Water Treatment), 2012 (Advanced Water Treatment)
Funded Fiscal Years: 2010, 2011 and 2012
Keywords: None

Research Question

* What portion of NOM is responsible for membrane fouling in pretreatment and desalination systems?

* Provided with this answer, what are potential methods to remove this NOM or NOM fraction?

Need and Benefit

Since removal of all NOM can be difficult and expensive, removing a certain fraction of NOM may be more desirable and less expensive. Therefore, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) research in this topic represents a potential cost savings for all Reclamation clients using a membrane filtration process for water treatment. Reclamation water treatment design engineers are almost always faced with some amount of NOM removal required when designing water treatment plants.

Contributing Partners

Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.

Research Products

Not Reviewed

The following documents were not reviewed. Statements made in these documents are those of the authors. The findings have not been verified.

Membrane Pretreatment with Ion Exchange for Natural Organic Matter (NOM) Removal - Final Report (final, PDF, 408KB)
By Steve Dundorf
Research Product completed on June 06, 2014

This project moved to the point of establishing a CRADA with the project partner, Orica Watercare and constructing a significant portion of the Membrane Swatch Test Unit (MSTU), the flat sheet membrane testing apparatus to be used for the research. However, funding limitations did not allow for all instrumentation needed on the MSTU or construction of additional testing equipment. Therefore, the research project did not continue, but the MSTU is available for future research. The MSTU is flex

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Last Updated: 6/22/20