Impact of kaolinite clay particles on the filtration of Cryptosporidium-sized microspheres

Granular filtration remains a key barrier for Cryptosporidium removal in water treatment plants without UV irradiation. To assess the impact of clay particles in source water on Cryptosporidium removal efficiency by granular filtration, this study investigated the co-transport of Cryptosporidium -sized microspheres and kaolinite particles in sand columns. To investigate the influence of clay load on microsphere transport and deposition, varying influent kaolinite concentrations (0–10 6 particles/mL) and microsphere concentrations (10 2 –10 6 microspheres/mL) were tested. The spatial distribution of retained microspheres was examined subsequent to experiments via filter coring. Results demonstrate that increasing the influent microsphere concentration impaired filter performance due to a blocking mechanism whereby previously retained particles repel incoming particles. In contrast, when the particulate load was dominated by kaolinite (for an equivalent particulate load), filter performance improved as a result of filter ripening whereby previously deposited particles act as additional collectors. Thus, microsphere-kaolinite interactions proved to be favorable although both particles possessed negative zeta potentials in the tested conditions. This study demonstrates that granular filter performance is vulnerable to peak events of microbial contamination. Conversely, Cryptosporidium -sized microsphere removal by granular filtration is enhanced in the presence of kaolinite in source water.