Virus removal by an in-line coagulation–ceramic microfiltration process with high-basicity polyaluminum coagulation pretreatment

The ability of in-line coagulation pretreatment with high-basicity polyaluminum chloride (PACl) coagulants to enhance virus removal by ceramic microfiltration (MF) was examined by comparing virus removal efficiencies from water pretreated with PACl-2.2 (basicity 2.2) and PACl-2.5 (basicity 2.5) versus alum, a synthetic aluminum chloride (AlCl3) solution, and two commercially available PACls, PACl-1.5 and PACl-1.8. The virus removal ratios for AlCl3, alum, PACl-1.5, and PACl-1.8 decreased markedly when the pH of the treated water shifted from 6.8 to 7.8, but was high at both pHs for PACl-2.2 and PACl-2.5. PACl-2.5 contains Al13 species and possibly Al30 species, and has a high colloid charge density. It removed viruses more efficiently than the other aluminum-based coagulants, not only at neutral pH, but also under weakly alkaline conditions. Moreover, the in-line coagulation–ceramic MF process with PACl-2.5 pretreatment removed not only viruses but also dissolved organic carbon and UV260-absorbing natural organic matter more efficiently and resulted in a lower residual aluminum concentration than did commercially available PACls, especially under weakly alkaline conditions. A combination of coagulation pretreatment with a high-basicity PACl and ceramic MF can provide effective treatment of drinking water over a broader pH range than is possible with commercially available aluminum-based coagulants.