Microfiltration (MF) ,

Ultrafiltration ( UF) :
theoretical basis , examples of application to water
and wastewater treatment
Reminder of the last course
The 3 fractions in water
- The different kinds of membrane
technology
- The notion of Permeability and
resistance
- Energy consumption for membrane
operation membrane processes .
-
The 3 fractions in natural water and
sea water
Particles ( size larger than 1 micron)
Colloids ( size smaller than 1 micron ,
typically between 1nm an one micron)
Solutes ( ions and organic molecules ) :
size typically between 1 Angstrom ( 0.1
nm) and 1nm.ween Relation between
Molecular Weight of molecules (MW
Dalton ) and their size
REVERSE OSMOSIS
NANOFILTRATION
ULTRAFILTRATION
MICROFILTRATION
CONVENTIONAL FILTRATION
Sands
Algae and protozoans
Bacteria
Colloids
Humic acids
Metal ions
Pesticides
Dissolved salts
Sugars
Molecular
weight
Viruses
Angstrm
MICRON
IONS IONS MOLECULES MOLECULES MACRO MOLECULES MACRO MOLECULES MICRO PARTICLES MICRO PARTICLES MACRO PARTICLES MACRO PARTICLES
VISIBLE TO NAKED EYE VISIBLE TO NAKED EYE OPTICAL MICROSCOPE OPTICAL MICROSCOPE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE
Note : 1 Angstrm = 10
-10
meter = 10
-4
micron
Range of Applications
Membrane characteristics : nomenclature
and methods of measurement.
pore size : pore size distribution and average pore size
MWCO ( Molecular Weight Cut-off) : the same as pore
size but in terms of Molecular Weight ( MW)
permeability , Pure water Permeability
porosity
Chemical characteristics : pH range for normal
use ,chlorine and oxidants resistance , solvent
resistance, etc
Physical characteristics : temperature of use ,
mechanical strength , hydrophobic or hydrophilic
( contact angle) , etc
Permeability and Resistance
Membrane permeability defined by the so called
Darcy Law: B = .(Q/A).Z)/P
Hydraulic Resistance R = Z/B = P / .(Q/A)
= viscosity ( 10
- 3
) for water at 20C
Q = flowrate (m
3
/s )
A = filtration Area (m
2
)
P = Pressure drop (p
in
p
out
) (Pascal)
Z is the thickness of the membrane (m)
B is given in m
2
Membrane hydraulic resistance
Hydraulic resistance R
m
= Z/B = P / .(Q/A)
R
m
is given in m
-1
Resistance during filtration
R
m
: initial resistance of the clean
membrane
During the filtration , the resistance
increases due to the fouling phenomena :
- internal clogging of the pores ( R
int
)
- formation of a deposit ( cake) : R
c
Total resistance R
t
= R
m
+ R
int
+ R
c
Energy consumption for membrane
operation
In dead end , only the energy of filtration
IF cross flow , energy for filtration + energy
for cross flow ( generally much more than
the energy for filtration).
If submerged membranes : energy of
filtration + energy for bubbling
Dead-end: MF/UF Cross flow: MF, UF
Microfiltration
The typical concepts in MF.
The concept of Critical Flux
The concept of critical flux
Its consequences on membrane operation
The concept of Critical flux
For defined hydrodynamic conditions ( wall shear
stress) it is possible to define a critical flux : this is
the flux below which the particle is not deposited at
the membrane surface.
The critical flux varies with the particle size and
has a minimum value for particles which size is in
the range : 0.1-1 micron.
Axial
velocity
profile
Membrane
Permeation
drag
van der Waals
attraction
Sedimentation
Axial drag
Charge
repulsion
Inertial lift
Brownian
Diffusion
Drag torque
Shear induced
migration
Forces Affecting Particle Transport
During Membrane Filtration ( from
Prof. Chung Hak Lee)
Factors affecting particle transport in
crossflow membrane microfiltration *
Factor Expression

Toward the membrane
Gravity
v d g
g p p
=
t
q

18
2
Van der W aals attraction
v
A
s
A
=
36
2
tq
Permeation drag (flux) J
Away from the membrane
Buoyancy
v d g
b p l
=
t
q

18
2
Electrical double layer
repulsion
( )
v
s
R
=
2
3
2
kc, k
q
exp
Brownian diffusion
v
kT
d
B
p
=
3tq o
Shear-induced diffusion v
u d
h
s
p
= 0 0225
2
.

o
Lateral migration v
u d
h
l
p p
=
13 8
128
2 3
2
.
q

* The type of membrane unit: plate and frame.

dp, particle diameter; p, particle density; q,

dynamic viscosity; A, Hamaker constant; s,
separation distance; l, liquid viscosity; k, Debye-
Hckel parameter; c, fluid permittivity; o,
boundary layer thickness calculated by the
Lvque equation; ,, zeta potential; uo, average
fluid velocity; h, half-channel height.
Total Back-Transport Velocity Including Brownian Diffusion,
Shear-Induced Diffusion, and Lateral Migration as a Function of
Particle Size and Fluid Velocity ( From Prof. Chung Hak Lee)
(temperature, 55
o
C; particle density, 0.99 g/cm
3
; channel height, 1.0 mm)
Particle Diameter, m
10
-2
10
-1
10
0
10
1
B
a
c
k
-
T
r
a
n
s
p
o
r
t
V
e
l
o
c
i
t
y
,
m
/
s
10
-7
10
-6
10
-5
10
-4
10
-3
F
l
u
x
,
L
/
m
2
-
h
1
10
100
1000
Fig. 7.7. Particle back-transport velocities as a function of particle size.
55
o
C, 0.5 m/s
Brownian Diffusion
Shear-Induced Diffusion
Total
Particle Back-transport as a Function of Particle
Size ( From Prof. Chung Hak Lee)
EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE ON CRITICAL
FLUX
(Particle concentration = 200 mg/L; ionic strength = 10
-5
M)
0
50
100
150
200
250
0.E +00 1.E -06 2.E -06 3.E -06 4.E -06
P artic le size (m)
J
c
r
i
t
.
(
L
/
s
q
m
h
)
C a l c u l a t e d
O b s e r v e d ( T M P c o n c e p t )
O b s e r v e d ( b y D O T M )
O b s e r v e d ( M a s s b a l a n c e
c o n c e p t )
Effect of Particle Size on critical flux
( from S. Kim et al. 2002)
The filtration equations
Microfiltration membrane
- The typical applications in water
and wastewater treatment
Polishing step after a conventional treatment for drinking
water production
Direct application on raw water
Pretreatment of RO
Tertiary treatment after conventional wastewater plant.
Combined with biological process or physico chemical
processes (see next courses on MBR and hybrid
Reversible and Irreversible Fouling : backwash operation.
The Filtration equations
FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION
UF and MF membranes are being used for
clarification and disinfection in place of
conventional settler- deep bed filter.
UF and MF membranes are able to
produce water with low turbidity (less than
0.1NTU) and very low micro-particles
concentration
Drinking Water
Applications
Disinfection
(crypto, giardia)
Disinfection
+ Pesticides
Clarification
Polishing
NOM, BCOD,
pesticides,
softening)
Desalination
Reverse
Osmosis
X
Nanofiltration
X X
Microfiltration
Ultrafiltration
X
(UFfor virus)
X
(PAChybrid)
X
X
Hybride Processes
(PAC, coagulants)
DISINFECTION
UF and MF are both able to remove with
the same efficiency Crypto sporidium,
Giardia and bacteria : the efficiency is
more related to the integrity than to the cut
size.
UF is supposed to be more efficient for
virus removal however a real disinfection
efficiency relies on a multi barrier process.
A Membrane
Alternative
for Clarification
pumping
coagulation
flocculation
clarification
filtration
chlorination
Microfiltration
ZeeWeed

Operation
Air Air
Permeate Permeate
Pump Pump
Raw Raw
Water Water
Reject Reject
Treated
Water
Clarification/Disinfection
Reference
Coliban: 126 MLD in Australia,
World s largest MF plant to date.
Immersed Membranes (cmf-s) MEMCOR,
Main Objectives: clarification and disinfection
Largest Microfiltration Plant in the World for
Potable Water Treatment uses MEMCOR CS
Challenge
The specification for the treated water from the treatment
plants was designed to meet existing guidelines and anticipate
future drinking water regulations.
Penalties are imposed for excursions from any of the 25
criteria specified. The water treatment challenge can be
summarized as:
Continuous 2 to 5 micron particle removal and 4-log reduction
for Cryptosporidium.
Reliable organics removal (algal toxins, color, taste and odor
compounds).
Solution
The Coliban Water Region Water Authority engaged USFilter and Veolia Water-
Australia to commission the AQUA 2000 Project, which is a build-own-operate-
transfer (BOOT) project. It includes the construction and operation for 25 years
of a water treatment scheme for the Coliban Water Authority in Victoria,
Southeastern Australia. This will comprise of three water treatment plants, the
largest of which, at Sandhurst, will use MEMCOR CS microfiltration
technology.
The plants use a combined process of microfiltration, ozonation and biological
activated carbon (BAC) to deliver water that far surpasses World Health
Organization standards.

Microfiltration membranes provide a physical barrier, removing particles down

to 0.2 micron. The MEMCOR CS plant consists of eight cells (6 duty cells, 2
stand-by cells), each containing 576 submerged membrane modules. Water
enters each cell and is drawn through the outside of the porous membranes to
the inside by a filtrate pump, producing filtered water. These cells are
backwashed intermittently using filtrate and air to scrub the fiber surface.
Periodic chemical cleaning is performed when the maximum transmembrane
pressure (TMP) is reached.
Results
Installing the MEMCOR CS system has increased economies of
scale for the Sandhurst WTP. Chemical costs are significantly
reduced, and so are related maintenance, storage and disposal.
Membrane integrity, minimal mechanical repairs and the CMF-S
systems ability to filter high and variable turbidities and algae
loads without chemicals or operator intervention also reduces
operational costs by 10-15% over the systems life cycle, when
compared to those of conventional filtration systems.
The MEMCOR CS systems smaller footprint has reduced
capital costs at the Sandhurst WTP by roughly 20%, allowing
Coliban Water to pack greater filtration capacity into a limited
space while expanding its potable water production.
All three plants are currently achieving levels well in excess of
7-log removal/inactivation of pathogens.
Second case study : WW reclamation.
Tertiary treatment
Challenge
The desert community of Scottsdale, Arizona had no natural surface
water sources and a decreasing groundwater supply. Scottsdale had
historically treated and disposed of its wastewater. As the city has
grown, disposal of wastewater presented several problems, such as:
The city was paying money to give away reclaimed water a commodity
The sewerage system would need upgrading, at a similar cost to the Water
Campus
Water lost from the city would have to be replaced, at a further treatment
cost
In 1980, the State of Arizona passed the Groundwater Management Act
(GMA), whereby facilities are given withdrawal credits when
recharging groundwater an attractive alternative for Scottsdale, as
groundwater requires only disinfection for potable use. The Scottsdale
Water Campus was developed as a water resources management
facility.
Solution
USFilter supplied a MEMCOR CMF (Continuous
Microfiltration) system as a pretreatment to RO. This
system consists of 24 units containing 90 modules
each, with a capacity of 18.5 MGD.
The Water Campus contains a 50 MGD water
treatment plant, a 12 MGD water reclamation plant,
and an advanced water treatment facility, which
consists of CMF, RO and recharge systems.
The CMF units are designed to achieve a minimum
14-day cleaning frequency. They were also designed
to run at a flux of 17.9 GFD, treating Colorado River
water, and a 24.3 GFD when treating effluent.
Results
Since commissioning, the CMF units have
consistently exceeded their performance target of a
14-day cleaning frequency.
CMF units on Colorado River water run at effluent flux,
and when running on effluent, have been cleaning at
least monthly.
All CMF units are operating with a Pressure Decay Test
of less than 0.2 psi/min.
Operating costs are approximately half of the pilot trial
estimated costs.
The CMF plant does not require a full-time operator.
UF is slightly different
The retention of molecules gives birth to a
new phenomena : polarization
concentration
Ultrafiltration membranes
The specifity of UF membranes : the
retention of macromolecules and viruses
The gel layer model
Mass balance on the solute
dz
dc
D j c
v
1
1
=
Boundary condition
Z=0, c
1
=c
10
Z=l, c
1
=c
1
1
10
ln
c
c
l
D
j
v
=
Integrating
Figure 11. Conc. polarization.
The polarization phenomena
Transport Equations
Ultrafiltration : the species transported - solvent
Chief force - pressure
Solvent velocity force on solvent
P L j
P v
A =
ty permeabili L
time per area per solvent of volume the j
P
v
:
:
P
l
k
Jv A
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

: DarcysLaw
thickness l
ty permeabili law s Darcy the k
:
' :
Figure 3. Ultrafiltration from a pressure
difference.
Gel Polarization
When the water contains macromolecules
retained by the membrane ,
Due to the concentration at the membrane
wall , the concentration may reach a
critical value which results in the formation
of a gel
From this moment, the flux cannot
increase anymore , whatever the pressure
Application to water and
wastewater treatment
In water treatment , the normal conditions
of operation are far from these critical
conditions
In waste water treatment , this phenomena
could occur for effluent with high organic
concentration
Disinfection - Reference
Clay Lane: 160 MLD in England, Three Valleys,
one of the largest UF plants ever built
Principal objectives: cryptoporidia removal
Stability of the operation
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
(bar)
Flux (m /m .h)
3 2
Temps (heures)
p (bar)
Time (hours)
Raw & Treated Water Turbidity
at Bernay Ouest
Eau brute
1
10
100
1000
0 30 60 90 120 150
0
0,02
0,04
0,06
0,08
0,1
0,12
0,14
0,16
0,18
0,2
0 30 60 90 120 150
14/1/94 13/2/94 15/3/94 14/4/94 14/5/94 14/6/94
Eau microfiltre
Jours
N
T
U
N
T
U
Raw water
Ultrafilterded water
Days
Raw & Treated Water Turbidity
at Bernay Ouest during Rain Events
(Aquasource UF membranes)
Sampling Date
Parameter Units
Dec. 21, 93 Jan. 27, 94
Raw water
Treated
water
Raw water
Treated
water
Turbidity NTU 32.0 0.3 7 0.1
Total Fe g/l 8,920 < 20 115 < 20
Total Mn g/l 410 < 10 < 10 < 10
Organic matter mg O
2
/l
12.8 3.3 1.1 0.9
Total coliforms #/100 ml 126,000 0 1,300 0
In existing waterworks
A niche application for membranes:
the treatment of the backwash water from
sand filters
Possibility of increasing the production by
3 to 4% and reducing the size of sludge
treatment facilities.
Reverse Osmosis Pre-Treatment
Removal of suspended solids larger than
0.035 microns and fouling organic
molecules
Typical advantages of ultrafiltration for RO
pre-treatment:
Absolute filter at 0.035 - 0.1 micron
Lower chemical consumption - no need to settle the coagulated
organics
Lower sludge volume to be disposed
Easy to operate
Produces a high quality water (SDI < 3), allowing for easy
operation of RO Plant (ie: lower power requirement, longer
cleaning intervals, longer membrane life)
Why a pretreatment is needed
Mechanical damage
Membrane degradation
Particulate fouling
Organic fouling
Coagulant fouling
Biofouling
Silica fouling
Other inorganic scaling
FOULING : 77%
Local conditions close to the
membrane wall
Organics are rejected by the membrane and thus
concentrated
Concentration depending on the recovery ratio : trend to
higher recovery results in higher average concentration .
Local concentration at the membrane wall depending too
on hydrodynamic conditions : concentration at the
membrane wall may be several times higher than the
average concentration.
Targeting less than 1ppm TOC (or BDOC)in the feed
looks realistic for ensuring the absence of bioactivity at
the membrane wall
Why a pretreatment is needed
Proper pre-treatment is the most critical factor
for successful long-term performance of reverse
osmosis seawater desalination plant. Brehant
et al., Desalination 144: 353-360, 2002.
optimization of the pretreatment is one of the
most critical aspects of RO. Van der Bruggen
and Vandecasteele, Desalination, 143: 207-
218, 2002.
BasicEqnfor Ultrafiltration
) ( AH A = o P L j
P v
t coefficien reflection : o
If the membrane rejects all solutes, then = 1 .
If the membrane passes both solvent and solute, then = 0
Typical application of UF membranes in
water and wastewater treatment
Direct filtration of sewage
The same as MF
Typical modules used for UF and
MF
Hollow fibre modules ( in cartridge or
submerged ) are mostly used.
Ceramic monolith modules are
becoming competitive.
UF or MF ?
Theoretically depending upon the
comparison between pore size distribution
and particle size distribution
UF if virus removal is needed
MF + coagulation and/or adsorption may
be equivalent to UF (see Hybrid
membrane processes)
Preliminary tests are useful.