Issue 9, 2018

Biofouling control by UV/H2O2 pretreatment for brackish water reverse osmosis process

Abstract

UV applied with H2O2 is a well-known advanced oxidation process (AOP) for degradation of trace organic compounds. However, the UV/H2O2 process has scarcely been documented as a disinfection method for brackish or seawater applications or particularly as a potential reverse osmosis (RO) biofouling control tool in varied treatment scenarios. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of medium-pressure (MP)-UV/H2O2 as a pretreatment step to control brackish water RO (BWRO) biofouling caused by indigenous microorganisms. UV/H2O2 pretreatment significantly reduced total heterotrophic counts. Consequently, the quantity of biofilm cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) following UV/H2O2 pretreatment was significantly lower than that obtained after the control and the singular UV pretreatment steps. This is attributed to the additive or synergistic effect of MP UV light, H2O2 and ˙OH radicals. Hence, UV/H2O2 has a high potential as a biofouling control tool in BWRO desalination systems. Higher H2O2 concentrations may achieve improved biofouling control due to enhanced radical formation and higher H2O2 residual effect.

Graphical abstract: Biofouling control by UV/H2O2 pretreatment for brackish water reverse osmosis process

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 мар. 2018
Accepted
24 јун. 2018
First published
25 јун. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2018,4, 1331-1344

Biofouling control by UV/H2O2 pretreatment for brackish water reverse osmosis process

A. Lakretz, H. Mamane, E. Asa, T. Harif and M. Herzberg, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2018, 4, 1331 DOI: 10.1039/C8EW00183A

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