Title: Membrane fouling in the nanofiltration of landfill leachate and its impact on trace contaminant removal

Authors: Dirk Vogel, Bernd Bilitewski, Long D. Nghiem

Addresses: School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Institute of Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment, Technische Universitat Dresden, Pratzschwitzer Strasse 15, Pirna 01796, Germany. ' Institute of Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment, Technische Universitat Dresden, Pratzschwitzer Strasse 15, Pirna 01796, Germany. ' School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

Abstract: Nanofiltration (NF) is an attractive option for the treatment of landfill leachate. However, membrane fouling can be a major obstacle in the implementation of this technology. In this study, bench-scale filtration experiments were carried out to study the fouling behaviour during the NF of a synthetic landfill leachate. The results indicate that calcium in combination with organic matter could play a major role in governing the fouling process. Membrane fouling depended on the calcium concentration in the feed solution. Moreover, the results also indicate a significant influence of membrane fouling on the retention of Bisphenol A (BPA). It was hypothesised that pore blocking and the presence of the fouling layer resulted in an enhanced sieving effect, which subsequently increased the retention of BPA. On the other hand, cake layer enhanced concentration polarisation could hinder BPA from back diffusing into the bulk solution, which would eventually result in a lower BPA retention.

Keywords: membrane fouling; landfill leachate; membrane filtration; nanofiltration; trace contaminants; contaminant removal; bisphenol A; BPA; waste management; environmental pollution; Australia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2007.015687

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2007 Vol.1 No.4, pp.338 - 350

Published online: 07 Nov 2007 *

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