Grantee Research Project Results
One-Step Ceramic Membrane Process for Small Drinking Water Treatment Facilities
EPA Contract Number: 68D98161Title: One-Step Ceramic Membrane Process for Small Drinking Water Treatment Facilities
Investigators: Liu, Paul K.T.
Small Business: Media and Process Technology Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through September 1, 2000
Project Amount: $224,830
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1998) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
A low-cost, high-performance ceramic membrane has been developed by Media and Process Technology, Inc. (M&P) as an economical and reliable one-step treatment process ideal for the production of drinking water for small communities. Excellent removal of turbidity, microorganisms, and THM precursors was demonstrated in synthetic and actual waters with no chemical addition and sludge generation. The commonly encountered operational problems associated with membrane processes can be overcome with the proposed membrane. In Phase I, laboratory evaluation showed a >95% removal of THM precursors in a long-term evaluation (approximately 1,000 hours) using actual surface water obtained from Allegheny River. More importantly, a steady permeate flux was maintained throughout the 1,000 hours with appropriate fouling control. Preliminary economic analyses based upon the feasibility test results indicate that both the capital and operating costs are comparable to or less than existing commercial polymeric microfiltration membrane systems.In Phase II, M&P will perform field tests using a pilot to demonstrate the proposed process and its long-term operating stability and to document its removal efficiency for future commercialization. The successful completion of Phase II will offer an economical and practical process to the small water treatment facility to meet current and future requirements.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, drinking water, engineering, chemistry, EPA., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, exploratory research environmental biology, Chemical Mixtures - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Microbiology, Ecological Effects - Human Health, Drinking Water, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, Ecological Indicators, ceramic membrane, monitoring, exposure and effects, THMFP, exposure, turbidity, membrane filtration, microorganisms, one-step filtration, treatment, filtration of sewage effluent, water treatment, drinking water treatment, ceramic membrane , other - risk managementProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
One-Step Ceramic Membrane Process for Small Drinking Water Treatment FacilitiesThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.