A submerged membrane hybrid system coupled with magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) and flocculation in wastewater treatment

Wastewater treated by conventional secondary and tertiary processes cannot be reused directly without further treatment. The membrane process can achieve a high quality effluent, but membrane fouling caused by organic matter affects membrane performance and operating cost. MIEX (R) resin can effectively remove the majority of small MW dissolved organic in wastewater (345-688 Dalton). Flocculation with an optimum dose of ferric chloride (24 mg/L as Fe) gave a higher removal of DOC, especially for removing the middle range of MW organics in wastewater (688-1421 Dalton). MIEX (R) and flocculation followed by submerged membrane system led to a very high DOC removal of more than 90-95% UVabs. This membrane hybrid system could maintain a transmembrane pressure of less than 8 kPa even after 8 h of operation thus reducing membrane fouling.