Efficiency of a combined biological aerated filter and ultrafiltration process for removal of odor compounds in rural drinking water

Access to safe and clean drinking water is a fundamental need, and the presence of odor compounds can seriously impact consumers' perception, undermining their trust in water quality. The occurrence of trans-1,10-dimethyltrans-9-decalol (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) is a common issue in surface water, such as lakes and reservoirs, resulting from algae bloom, which exacerbates the odor problems in summer. To address this issue, a combined process of biological aerated filter (BAF) and ultrafiltration was investigated in its efficacy in removing odor compounds under different concentrations and in achieving drinking water standards. Our results indicate that the combined process was effective, achieving abatement of turbidity and organic matter and, specifically, a removal rate of up to 96.5 % for GSM and similar to 100 % for 2-MIB at an influent concentration of 100 ng/L, a concentration commonly associated with odor issues in rural areas. Possible biodegradation pathways of odor compounds are also discussed. Increasing the air-to-water ratio to 5:1 in the combined system greatly improved the removal rate of odor compounds, enabling it to treat raw water with concentrations as high as 300 ng/L for both GSM and 2-MIB. This combined system holds great practical potential in addressing odor issues in rural areas, offering the capability to provide safe, clean, and odor-free drinking water, thereby significantly enhancing the quality of life especially in rural communities.