Water Treatment of High Turbid Source by Tubular Ceramic Microfiltration with Periodic Water-back-flushing System

We performed periodic water-back-flushing using permeate water to minimize membrane fouling to enhance permeate flux in tubular ceramic microfiltration system for water treatment of high turbid source. The filtration time (FT) = 2 min with periodic 6 sec water-back-flushing showed the highest value of dimensionless permeate flux ($J/J_o$), and the lowest value of resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$), and we acquired the highest total permeate volume $(V_T)\;=\;6.805L$. Also in the result of BT effect at fixed FT = 10 min and BT (back-flushing time) = 20 sec showed the lowest value of $R_f$ and the highest value of $J/J_o$, and we could obtain the highest $V_T\;=\;6.660\;L$. Consequently, FT = 2 min and BT = 6 sec could be the optimal condition in water treatment of high turbid source above 10 NTU. However, FT = 10 min and BT = 20 sec was superior to reduce operating costs because of lower back-flushing frequency. Then the average quality of water treated by our tubular ceramic MF system was turbidity of 0.07 NTU, $COD_{Mn}$ of 1.86 mg/L and $NH_3-N$ of 0.007 mg/L.