Characterization and Removal of NOM from Raw Waters in Coastal Environments

• Main Author: Check, Jason Kenneth
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: Georgia Institute of Technology 2005
• Subjects: Savannah (Ga.); Natural organic matter; Fulvic acid; Molecular weight; MW; Fulvic; Humic acid; Humic; Separation; UF; Characterization; Ultrafiltration; NOM
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1853/7000

An investigation was conducted focusing on how NOM affects coagulation in a United States south eastern coastal surface water. Current water treatment practice at Savannah Water I and D was investigated to determine the efficacy of NOM removal using existing coagulation methods. A robust assessment of alum and ferric sulfate for use as coagulants in the removal of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursor material was conducted using composite water created from sample sites within the SWID watershed. Both coagulants were optimized for the removal of NOM. Pragmatic methods of NOM size analysis and its reactivity with chlorine was investigated. UF membranes were used in conjunction with a permeation coefficient model (PCM) to determine an apparent molecular weight distribution of NOM present in the watershed. Individual size classes were assessed for their potential to form trihalomethanes (THMs) upon chlorination. Coagulation using alum and ferric sulfate was assessed to determine removal efficiency of individual NOM size classes under various coagulation scenarios. Finally, UV254 absorbance (UVA) was assessed to determine its potential use as an indicator of DOC concentration in raw and treated water at SWID. Additionally, an investigation into the relationship between specific UVA (SUVA) and THM formation potential (THM-FP) was conducted.