Recovery Increase by Recycling Backwash Residuals in Microfiltration System

With the rise in membrane applications, residuals management has become a growing challenge for membrane system. The primary residuals of MF/UF (microfiltration/ultrafiltration) system results from the wastes generated during backwashing. Many regulatory agencies, utilities, and water process engineers are unfamiliar with the characteristics and methods for treatment and disposal of membrane residuals. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the backwash residuals water quality from the pressurized system with and without pre-coagulation, and to suggest approaches for the backwash residuals treatment. Pressurized MF system was installed at Guui water intake pumping station and operated with raw water taken from the Han River. We compared performances with and without the recycling backwash residuals at flux conditions, 50 LMH and 90 LMH with and without pre-treatment (coagulation). Based on the results, recycling of backwash residuals in pressurized system with pre-coagulation showed applicability of backwash residuals managements. Moreover, the recovery rate also increased up to over 99%.