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Radial Flow Fludized Filter Finds Niche as a Pretreatment System for Surface Water in Small Communities
Citation:
PATTERSON, C. L. AND E. BROMLEY. Radial Flow Fludized Filter Finds Niche as a Pretreatment System for Surface Water in Small Communities. IN: EWRI Currents, Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of ASCE, Reston, VA, 11(1):NA, (2009).
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
An emerging technology called radial flow fluidized filter (R3f) has been developed as a low cost simplistic filtration technology for small communities of less than 10,000 people. Fouling is a major impediment to the sustainability of membrane technology particularly for small potable water treatment system applications. The main culprit for fouling is dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Enhanced coagulation, to remove DOC prior to membrane application, has reduced fouling and organic carbon levels significantly. If chlorine is used, removing DOC also reduces the formation of disinfection byproducts. However, small communities typically do not have highly trained operators or financial resources to use high dosages of coagulants. Alternative filtration technologies are needed to reduce operation and maintenance costs in small communities.
