Keywords

nanofiltration; drinking water; mass transfer modeling; pretreatment

Abstract

This document details the results of a study that employed a single element, spiral-wound, thinfilm composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane pilot to assess the treatment effectiveness for aerated and unaerated groundwater supplies. Phase 1 consisted of using raw, unaerated groundwater with standard cartridge filtration (CF) and scale inhibitor (SI) as pretreatment to NF. During the first phase, four water recoveries and crossflow velocities were evaluated to observe how operational conditions affected permeate water quality. Phase 2 involved the simulation of a 70-foot transmission pipeline and sand filter (SF) pilot in series with CF and SI addition pretreatment, prior to NF. Phase 3 employed tray aeration prior to the SF pilot. The pilot was operated for 1,483 run-hours over the three phases, whereupon operational and water quality monitoring ensued to assess NF efficiency. Biological activity tests and foulant analyses were performed to further characterize source water. It was determined statistically that changes in operational conditions in Phase 1 such as crossflow velocity did not significantly affect constituent mass transfer. Phase 2 demonstrated that NF removed total dissolved solids and total organic carbon content greater than 96 percent (%) and 86%, respectively. Phase 3, which exhibited operational difficulties and flux decline, suggested that additional pretreatment is required for NF operation using aerated groundwater. Dimensional analysis (DA) and diffusionbased mass transfer models were employed to predict permeate chloride content for each testing phase; it was determined that the DA overpredicted chloride concentrations by 10 magnitudes and diffusion models were predictive when compared to actual values. The transient response to feed water perturbations within the single-stage membrane process was determined to cause a log-logistic two-and-a-half-minute delay.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Duranceau, Steven

Degree

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (M.S.Env.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering

Degree Program

Environmental Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

DP0028320

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0028320

Language

English

Rights

In copyright

Release Date

May 2025

Length of Campus-only Access

1 year

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Campus-only Access)

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Accessibility Status

Meets minimum standards for ETDs/HUTs

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Restricted to the UCF community until May 2025; it will then be open access.

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