Comparing nanofiltration and reverse osmosis for drinking water augmentation

Researchers investigated the use of ultralow-pressure reverse osmosis (ULPRO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes for water reuse applications where lower operating pressures and a high permeate quality are desired. A laboratory-scale investigation was performed to compare the rejection and operational performance of reverse osmosis, ULPRO, and NF membranes and select two for testing at a water facility in California. An ULPRO membrane and an NF membrane were then tested at pilot and full scale at a water recycling plant and monitored in terms of operational performance and rejection of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and regulated and unregulated organic micropollutants. Pilot- and full-scale testing of the best-performing membranes demonstrated that both ULPRO and NF membranes could meet potable water quality requirements. The presumed advantage of using ULPRO and NF membranes diminished as fouling occurred, resulting in operating pressures only slightly lower or similar to traditional RO membranes.