Characteristics of natural organic matter removed from water along with its treatment

The object of this study was to examine the nature of natural organic matter (NOM) removed on each stage of water treatment train used in the “Mokry Dwór” Wrocław Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and to compare obtained results with water treatment efficiencies achieved with the use of membrane ultrafiltration, ion-exchange and UF/ion-exchange integrated processes. In the experiments fractional analysis with the use of polymeric resins (DAX-8, XAD-4 and IRA-958) was used. Obtained results have shown that most (56%) of the raw water NOM was found in fraction characterized by presence of humic and fulvic acids (VHA and SHA fractions). VHA fraction made the most of DOC removed in examined water treatment train and coagulation was mainly responsible for this effect. Integrated process consisting of MIEX®DOC ion exchange and PES 10 kDa ultrafiltration turned out to be very effective at high molecular weight hydrophobic compounds removal from water being much less efficient with hydrophilic compounds.