Removal of natural organic matter and trihalomethane formation potential by four different coagulants during coagulation-microfiltration processes

Integrated process with coagulation and microfiltration as an advanced water treatment has been expanded its application in recent years due to its superb removal of particles and natural organic matter. In usual, effectiveness of coagulation sometimes determines performance of the whole system. Several new polymeric coagulants introduced to water utilities for better efficiency were studied in this paper. Three polymeric coagulants (i.e., PACl, PACs, and PAHCs) along with alum were evaluated for removal of natural organic matter, especially for reduction of trihalomethane formation potential, for which regulation has become stringent. Turbidity removal was closely related to pH variation showing the reduced turbidity removal by PACs due to the decreases in the pH of supernants at high doses. The four coagulants showed different organic matter removal during coagulation and affected the removal in microfiltration. For instance, DOC concentration was not reduced by microfiltration when PAHCs were used however 10 % of DOC removal was observed by microfiltration with alum coagulation. Coagulation pretreatment also impacted the THM removals, i.e., approximately 30 % of THMs and 13 % of DOC was removed by microfiltration only, but 40 to 67 % of THMs and 30 % of DOC was removed by the integrated process. Strategies on selection of coagulants are needed depending on characteristics of target pollutants in raw waters.