Elsevier

Journal of Membrane Science

Volume 499, 1 February 2016, Pages 92-104
Journal of Membrane Science

Rejection of submicron sized particles from swimming pool water by a monolithic SiC microfiltration membrane: Relevance of steric and electrostatic interactions

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2015.10.033Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Surrogate challenge tests were carried out using a novel SiC MF membrane.

  • MS2 phages and microspheres were appropriate to surrogate relevant pathogenic viruses.

  • Physical sieving was predicted based on the pore size distribution of the membrane.

  • Organics and salts affect electrostatic properties and the rejection of surrogates.

  • Pore blockage increased the removal effectivity for large surrogates (~500 nm).

Abstract

The rejection of submicron sized particles from swimming pool water by a ceramic silicon carbide (SiC) microfiltration membrane in monolithic configuration was investigated and mechanisms elucidated.

Physicochemical properties showed that the surrogates used in challenge tests (i.e. MS2 bacteriophages and 50–500 nm fluorescent microspheres) are adequate surrogates for viruses commonly found in pool water.

The log-removal value (LRV) of the SiC membrane strongly depended on the size and electrostatic properties of the surrogates. Experiments with swimming pool water showed that organic matter and salts present in the pool water decreased the surface potential of the surrogates which in turn increased the LRV of the SiC membrane.

Long-term experiments revealed, that the removal effectivity of the SiC membrane, over the course of a filtration cycle (~150 min), increased for large surrogates (500 nm microspheres), while the removal effectivity remained unchanged for small surrogates (MS2 phages). This effect was explained by progressive and permanent blockage of large mesopores (>500 nm) in the active membrane layer by particles present in the pool water.

Section snippets

Introduction and objectives

Chlorine-based disinfection is widely used in swimming pool water treatment to ensure hygienic safety by inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms, namely viruses, bacteria and protozoa. However, the disinfection effectivity of chlorine is lowered as planktonic microorganisms attach to particles [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] which are introduced into pool water by the bathers [6]. As a result of the lowered disinfection effectivity, the potential of an outbreak in swimming pool facilities increases.

Preparation of stock suspensions

As typical concentrations of microorganisms found in swimming pool water are too low to provide proof of high log-removal values (<100 cfu mL−1 [45], [46]), suspensions of surrogates were used in this study. Surrogates are model particles of the size, surface charge and shape of interest. Two different types of surrogates, MS2 phages and spherical polystyrene fluorescent microspheres were used.

MS2 phages (ATCC 15597-B1) were purchased from the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures

ζ-potential of the surrogates and the active membrane layer

Surface properties of relevant virus and bacteria are typically reported for solutions of monovalent cations in a concentration range of 0.01–0.03 M (Table 1). Thus, for the purpose of comparison with previous studies, ζ-potentials discussed in this section were determined in solutions of 0.01 M NaCl (Fig. 3) only.

At neutral conditions, all surrogates suspended in 0.01 M NaCl revealed a negative surface charge. The fluorescent microspheres comprised a significantly lower ζ-potential of −54.6 mV (200

Summary and conclusions

The present work reports the removal effectivity of a novel monolithic SiC MF membrane (carrier, primer and active membrane layer made of SiC) for submicron sized particles. Moreover, the impact of steric and electrostatic interactions between the used particles and the active membrane layer of the SiC membrane on the overall removal of the SiC membrane were identified.

MS2 phages and fluorescent microspheres were used for the rejection experiments. The MS2 phages comprised an isoelectric point

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Sandro Wolf and Dr. Marina Totrova for their help in MS2 phage analysis and for making it possible to use the micro plate reader. The help of Dr.-Ing. André Lerch for his advice during the construction of the pilot plant and Dr. Ronald Neufert is greatly appreciated. Dipl.-Ing. Susanne Goldberg is thanked for SEM analysis of the SiC membrane.

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