(506a) Hybrid Advanced Oxidation Process-Ultrafiltration Polysulfone Membrane: Application to Industrial Waste Water Treatment

Discharge of dye-containing industrial effluents into natural water bodies causes serious environmental and health problems. In most cases, dyes are toxic, carcinogenic and have a complex structure that is difficult to degrade. Partial degradation of dyes can also produce by-products that are equally harmful to the environment as their parent materials. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop effective and efficient methods to completely remove or make dyes non- toxic before discharging to the environment. 

In this research, we investigate the synergistic combination of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) with ultrafiltration polysulfone membrane to provide high performance treatment of dyes and other recalcitrant contaminants.  

AOPs cause production of very reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals that can attack organic compounds to degrade and mineralize them. We found 15% and 77.5% decrease in total organic carbon (TOC) also 77% and 95% decrease in concentration of Acid Black 1 as representative synthetic organic dyes from solution by using UV and UV/H2O2 respectively. AOPs Pretreatment approaches can be applied to change the physicochemical properties of organic dyes and reduce the fouling potential. In this study, the effect of pretreatment of solution by AOPs on polysulfone membrane flux ad flux recovery ratio and permeate quality was investigated.  

Integration of AOPs by membrane filtration demonstrated to be effective in achieving a more complete removal of organic matter from waste water samples. Ultrafiltration membranes can be used to remove suspended solids, organics and bacteria from the feed of waste water. Membrane fouling is a major obstacle for using membrane in water treatment. However, several modification approaches, such as membrane surface chemical modification, have been used to increase the antifouling ability of membrane. In this work we have used AOPs to drastically reduced membrane fouling. 

By using UF eafter AOP not only the water is effectively treated and no /less waste will be producing during the treatment processes but also membrane fouling will be decreased.  We used a bench-scale photo reactor, which includes a high-pressure UV lamp (450 W), and cross flow polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane with and without addition of nanoparticles in membrane composition.

Keywords: Organic dyes, Advanced Oxidation, Ultrafiltration membrane, Wastewater Treatment, Environmental Protection