The effect of coagulation with MF/UF membrane filtration for the removal of virus in drinking water

Liv Fiksdal*, Tor Ove Leiknes

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

179 Scopus citations

Abstract

Removal of phage MS2 in drinking water by pre-coagulation and filtration through ultrafiltration (UF) and microfiltration (MF) membranes was investigated in a laboratory test unit. Two commercial aluminium-based coagulants (ALG and PAX) were used. The low (≤1-30 pfu/mL) numbers of infective virus detected in permeates show that pre-coagulation/flocculation in combination with both loose UF and MF membrane filtration was an effective hygienic barrier against MS2 virus. Without pre-coagulation/flocculation, no (MF) or only a minor (UF) virus removal was observed. The two coagulants provided high virus removal efficiencies (>7.4 logs) after UF and MF membrane filtration using doses of 5 mg Al/L. Reducing the dose of coagulants to 3 mg Al/L had only a small effect on the removal efficiency, which remained high after UF membrane filtration, and ALG/MF membrane filtration (>7.1 logs). The virus removal obtained with PAX (3 mg Al/L) and MF membrane filtration was slightly less (6.7 logs) than for the other conditions. Combined removal of virus and colour by pre-coagulation/flocculation and MF membrane filtration was also investigated. The low concentrations of both virus and colour in the permeate indicate that low-pressure MF filtration in combination with pre-coagulation/flocculation is a potential efficient technology for removal of virus and colour in drinking water.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)364-371
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume279
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Coagulation
  • Colour
  • Drinking water
  • UF/MF membrane filtration
  • Virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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