초록
Granular media filtration is used almost universally as the last particle removal process in conventional water treatment plants. Therefore, superb particle removal efficiency is needed during this process to ensure a high quality of drinking water. However, every particle can not be removed during granular media filtration. Besides the pattern of particle attachment is different depending on physicochemical aspects of particles and suspension. Filtration experiments were performed in a laboratory-scale filter using spherical glass beads with a diameter of 0.55 mm as collectors. A single type of particle suspension (Min-U-Sil 5) and pH control was used to destabilize particles. The operating conditions were similar to those of standard media filtration practice: a filtration velocity of 5 m/h. More favorable particles, i.e., particles with smaller surface charge, were well attached to the collectors especially during the early stage of filtration. This selective attachment of the lower charged particles caused the zeta potential distribution (ZPD) of the effluent to move to a more negative range. On the other hand, the ZPD of the effluent did not keep moving from less negative to more negative during the later stages of filtration, and this result was thought to be caused by two reasons: ripening effects and the detachment of flocs.