NanoMembraneWater: development of innovative hybrid processes for contaminated water treatment using nanoporous membranes

Abstract This study aims at the development of a hybrid process for the efficient treatment of water and potentially of wastewater, by the combination of ozonation and membrane filtration and the investigation of the complete ozone utilization by the employment of a novel ceramic membrane reactor concept. The advantages of the process are mainly referred to the achievement of a homogeneous (down to microscale) transfer and distribution of ozone (“bubbles aeration”) within the main body of bulk water stream, which results in very efficient oxidation. Ceramic membranes were prepared initially, in order to investigate the single filtration of groundwater; tubular shaped nonsymmetric ceramic membranes were developed and their efficiency was examined for the removal of As-loaded water. Microporous γ-Al2O3–17Fe (molar ratio Al and Fe: 1:1) membrane was found to adsorb the pollutant As(V) ions up to 95%. The combined process of ozonation and membrane filtration was examined in a bench scale unit, where ozone was...