Abstract:
The performance of ion exchanger Purolite A502PS in treating biologically treated sewage effluent
(Reverse Osmosis feed) was evaluated in a submerged membrane ion exchange hybrid system (SMIHS).
The experimental results showed that adding a small amount of Purolite A502PS of 0.5 g/L increased the
organic removal of the submerged membrane reactor from less than 10% to above 40%. The homogeneous
surface diffusion model (HSDM) could predict the adsorption kinetics of Purolite A502PS. A higher dose of
Purolite A502PS in SMIHS led to better organic removal as well as reduced membrane resistance. After
one hour of operation at a flux of 36 LMH, the amount of organic matter retained on the membrane surface
decreased from 2.11E 9 kg/m2 s to 8.25E 10 kg/m2 s when 1 g/L of Purolite A502PS was added into
the submerged membrane reactor. Although the increase of membrane flux from 36 L/m2 h (LMH) to
60 LMH did not have much effect on organic removal, more organics were adsorbed onto the membrane
surface. This led to a higher transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 12 kPa in the SMIHS after eight hours
operation at a flux 60 LMH. The increase in TMP was approximately four times higher than that at a flux
of 36 LMH.
