The role of ozone for reducing foulants in the membrane process has been studied. In this
study, Ibuprofen (IB, a micropollutant) and MS2 bacteriophage (MS2, a microorganism)
were tested as two different types of foulant probes to investigate the membrane fouling
mechanisms during microfiltration (MF). The extent of fouling in the tested MF process
was adequately predicted by the adsorptive fouling model for IB and the internal pore
plugging model for MS2 as compared to other classical fouling models. The fouling
contributed by both foulants was found to be almost irreversible.
In order to reduce the fouling problem during the MF process, several ozone experiments
have been conducted that include: investigate the preventive effect of ozone destructing
foulants in the aqueous phase prior to the foulant accumulation on MF; and,
investigate the treatability of a fouled membrane with ozone.
The role of MF filtration in the MF-ozonation hybrid scheme has also been investigated.
A slower ozone decay rate, which is a favorable condition from the disinfection
perspective, but a lower IB removal rate, which is negative from the oxidative standpoint,
was observed during ozonation after the MF process. Includes 13 references, figures.