SEPARATION OF PRIORITY ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM TAP WATER BY LOW-PRESSURE COMPOSITE MEMBRANE

The rejection of salt (TDS) and selected organic pollutants from tap water was investigated using low pressure composite membrane (FT-30). The parameters used to evaluate the system behavior as a function of operating conditions were the absolute throughput (permeate flow rate) and the rejection. The reverse osmosis system was operated in the range of 80-195 psi. In the throughput range of 14-19.7%, the single pass system achieved rejections of TDS (as measured by conductivity), benzene, chloroform, and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the range of 98.4-98.7%, 76.3-87.1%, 49.5-88.9%, and 93.5-95% respectively. The results of this investigation help to define the relationship between the membrane and the organic solutes in terms of their molecular characteristics (molecular weight, hydrogen bonding ability, and water solubility).