AWWA WQTC60678

Natural organic matter (NOM) present in four Korean water sources as representatives of Korean water supplies, and three U.S. water sources were characterized by dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UVA) 254, specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA), XAD 8/4 fractionation, SEC-DOC/UV, protein and carbohydrates contents, and fluorescence excitation and emission matrix (EEM), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Algal organic matter and effluent impacted waters exhibit a fingerprint of high content of colloidal organic matter and/or macromolecules. It is noteworthy that the high content of colloidal organic matter and/or macromolecules are associated with an increase in the HPI fraction of DOC and high MW DOC. In order to simulate an integrated membrane system (IMS), water sources were prefiltered with a 0.22 mm filter. Prefiltered water showed less flux decline after 6 hours of filtration than 0.45 mm prefiltered water while the rejection rate reached up to 97% based on DOC. However, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed a signature of polysaccharides deposited on the membrane surface. This indicates that the foulant causing a significant flux decline is between 0.45 ~ 0.22 mm and these sizes reflect colloidal organic matter and/or macromolecules. Includes 4 references, tables, figures.