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Use of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Microfiltration Membranes to Remove Microorganisms and Organic Pollutants from Primary Effluents
Author(s) -
Modise Claude M.,
Bendick John A.,
Miller C. J.,
Neufeld Ronald D.,
Vidic Radisav D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143006x99777
Subject(s) - effluent , microfiltration , membrane , pollutant , wastewater , microorganism , environmental chemistry , fecal coliform , chemistry , combined sewer , sewage treatment , environmental engineering , environmental science , bacteria , biology , water quality , ecology , organic chemistry , biochemistry , stormwater , surface runoff , genetics
Primary‐effluent wastewater from the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (Pennsylvania) was used as a surrogate for combined‐sewer‐overflow waters contained in the sewershed. Pathogens contained in combined‐primary‐effluent wastewaters or combined‐sewer overflows (CSOs) may pose a human‐health threat to those coming in contact with such receiving waters. Polymeric ultra‐ and nano‐membranes can be used to capture these microorganisms from CSOs. This research investigates the ability of polymeric hydrophobic and hydrophilic membranes, ranging in pore size from 0.2 to 0.8 μm, to remove pathogen‐indicator organisms (Escherichia coli, enterococcus, and fecal coliforms). Membranes, with pore size 0.45 μm and smaller, were able to reduce the bacteria levels to nondetectable levels, with the sole exception of one membrane with pore size 0.3 μm.