Performance of submerged membrane - Ion exchange hybrid system with Purolite A502PS in treating reverse osmosis feed

The performance of ion exchanger Purolite A502PS in treating biologically treated sewage effluent (Reverse Osmosis feed) was evaluated in a submerged membrane ion exchange hybrid system (SMIHS). The experimental results showed that adding a small amount of Purolite A502PS of 0.5 g/L increased the organic removal of the submerged membrane reactor from less than 10% to above 40%. The homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM) could predict the adsorption kinetics of Purolite A502PS. A higher dose of Purolite A502PS in SMIHS led to better organic removal as well as reduced membrane resistance. After one hour of operation at a flux of 36 LMH, the amount of organic matter retained on the membrane surface decreased from 2.11E−9 kg/m2 s to 8.25E−10 kg/m2 s when 1 g/L of Purolite A502PS was added into the submerged membrane reactor. Although the increase of membrane flux from 36 L/m2 h (LMH) to 60 LMH did not have much effect on organic removal, more organics were adsorbed onto the membrane surface. This led to a higher transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 12 kPa in the SMIHS after eight hours operation at a flux 60 LMH. The increase in TMP was approximately four times higher than that at a flux of 36 LMH.