Pilot-scale study on direct ultrafiltration of raw water for drinking water production and its operating parameter optimization

HU Lingqi; WAN Qiqi; HUANG Zhen; PAN Mingbin; LI Xin; LI Dong; MENG Xin; WEN Gang

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202603008

Volume 44 Issue 3

Mar. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(3): 92-100

HU Lingqi, WAN Qiqi, HUANG Zhen, PAN Mingbin, LI Xin, LI Dong, MENG Xin, WEN Gang. Pilot-scale study on direct ultrafiltration of raw water for drinking water production and its operating parameter optimization[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(3): 92-100. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202603008

Citation:

HU Lingqi, WAN Qiqi, HUANG Zhen, PAN Mingbin, LI Xin, LI Dong, MENG Xin, WEN Gang. Pilot-scale study on direct ultrafiltration of raw water for drinking water production and its operating parameter optimization[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(3): 92-100. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202603008

Citation:

HU Lingqi, WAN Qiqi, HUANG Zhen, PAN Mingbin, LI Xin, LI Dong, MENG Xin, WEN Gang. Pilot-scale study on direct ultrafiltration of raw water for drinking water production and its operating parameter optimization[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(3): 92-100. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202603008

PDF( 1903 KB)

Pilot-scale study on direct ultrafiltration of raw water for drinking water production and its operating parameter optimization

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202603008

HU Lingqi^1,2,
WAN Qiqi^1,2,
HUANG Zhen^1,2,
PAN Mingbin³,
LI Xin⁴,
LI Dong⁵,
MENG Xin⁵,
WEN Gang^{1,2
,
,}

1. Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource，Environment and Ecology，Ministry of Education，School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering，Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology，Xi'an 710055，China;
2. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering，School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering，Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology，Xi'an 710055，China;
3. Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute Co.，Ltd.，Wuhan 430010，China;
4. CCCC First Habor Engineering Co.，Ltd.，Tianjin 300461，China;
5. Haikou Kaiyuan Water Co.，Ltd.，Haikou 570208，China

Received Date: 2025-11-17
Available Online: 2026-04-11
Publish Date: 2026-03-01

Abstract

Abstract

This study， conducted at the Haikou Jiangdong Water Plant， applied a direct ultrafiltration process to treat the Nandu River water for potable use. Pilot-scale experiments were performed to optimize key operational parameters， including filtration cycle， backwash regime， and chemical-enhanced backwash （CEB） dosing and frequency. Under the optimized condition， the study comprehensively evaluated treatment performance， membrane-fouling characteristics， and techno-economic outcomes. The results showed that with a filtration cycle of 90 min and a high-intensity， short-duration backwash regime （170 L/（m²·h） flux， 150 s air scouring， 10 s combined air-water top backwash， 10 s combined air-water bottom backwash）， together with CEB using 500 mg/L sodium hypochlorite at a frequency of 7 days， the system exhibited robust adaptability and stable performance across varying raw-water qualities. The system maintained regulatory-compliant effluent even when raw-water COD_Mn reached 7.01 mg/L during high-turbidity periods （≥50 NTU）. However， when raw-water COD_Mn approached 3.6 mg/L during low-turbidity periods （<50 NTU）， there was a potential risk of the effluent COD_Mn exceeding the applicable drinking-water standard. Over 42 days of operation， the transmembrane pressure increased by a cumulative 8.48 kPa but stabilized following a short-term high-turbidity perturbation. Membrane-fouling analyses confirmed that the optimized operating conditions effectively limited fouling and identified siliceous-aluminous inorganic residues as the primary irreversible foulant fraction. A techno-economic assessment indicated water production costs of RMB 0.226/m³ （low-turbidity） and RMB 0.243/m³ （high-turbidity）， both lower than the RMB 0.261/m³ estimated for a conventional coagulation-sedimentation-filtration-disinfection process. The operational-parameter framework established in this study provides experimental evidence and technical support for applying direct ultrafiltration as a primary pretreatment unit in engineering practice.
- direct ultrafiltration,
- parameter optimization,
- high-turbidity water,
- effluent quality,
- membrane fouling

FullText(HTML)

References(20)

References

[1]	PENG K F. Academician Li Guibai of the Chinese Academy of Engineering：ultrafiltration technology will bring major changes to drinking water purification processes[N]. China Science Daily，2013-06-11（1）. 彭科峰. 中国工程院院士李圭白：超滤技术将引起饮水净化工艺重大变革[N]. 中国科学报，2013-06-11（1）.
[2]	WANG A. Direct ultrafiltration treating high turbid water：performance optimization and mechanisim[D]. Harbin：Harbin Institute of Technology，2023. 王澳. 直接超滤工艺处理高浊水的净水效能及膜污染控制研究[D]. 哈尔滨：哈尔滨工业大学，2023.
[3]	LI G B，LIANG H，BAI L M，et al. Green processes：development direction of the third generation drinking water purification process[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2021，57（9）：1-5. 李圭白，梁恒，白朗明，等. 绿色工艺：第三代饮用水净化工艺的发展方向[J]. 给水排水，2021，57（9）：1-5.
[4]	NIU D Y. Experimental study on pollution control of ultrafiltration membrane by chemically enhanced backwashing[D]. Harbin：Harbin Institute of Technology，2020. 牛东媛. 化学强化反冲洗对超滤膜污染控制试验研究[D]. 哈尔滨：哈尔滨工业大学，2020.
[5]	FENG W T，WU S Q，MA B W. The pilot-scale performance of integrated iron salt floc-ultrafiltration process for drinking water purification[J]. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering，2023，17（6）：1851-1859. 冯文涛，吴思琦，马百文. 一体式铁盐絮体-超滤净水工艺中试运行效能[J]. 环境工程学报，2023，17（6）：1851-1859.
[6]	SEPA. Water and wastewater monitoring and analysis methods[M]. Fourth Edition. Beijing：China Environmental Science Press，2002. 国家环境保护总局. 水和废水监测分析方法[M]. 4版. 北京：中国环境科学出版社，2002.
[7]	VROMAN T，BEAUME F，ARMANGES V，et al. Critical backwash flux for high backwash efficiency：case of ultrafiltration of bentonite suspensions[J]. Journal of Membrane Science，2021，620：118836.
[8]	LIAO X T，WANG W M，ZHANG T，et al. Study to optimize the operating parameters of ultrafiltration process[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2024，60（5）：53-60. 廖先涛，王为民，张涛，等. 超滤工艺运行参数优化研究[J]. 给水排水，2024，60（5）：53-60.
[9]	国家市场监督管理总局，国家标准化管理委员会. 生活饮用水卫生标准：GB 5749—2022[S]. 北京：中国标准出版社，2022. State Administration for Market Regulation，Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China. Standards for drinking water quality：GB 5749—2022[S]. Beijing：Standards Press of China，2022.
[10]	XU P，LI Z Q，CHENG Z L，et al. Study on the correlation between DBPFP and UV₂₅₄/DOC of raw water[J]. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae，2018，38（8）：3021-3026. 徐鹏，李忠群，程战利，等. 水源水消毒副产物生成势与UV₂₅₄/DOC的相关性研究[J]. 环境科学学报，2018，38（8）：3021-3026.
[11]	JIANG S J，LIU Z Y. The significance of UV₂₅₄ as an indicator for organic-matter control in water treatment[J]. Journal of Chongqing Jianzhu University，2002（2）：61-65. 蒋绍阶，刘宗源. UV₂₅₄作为水处理中有机物控制指标的意义[J]. 重庆建筑大学学报，2002（2）：61-65.
[12]	XU F F. Study on membrane pretreatment process to alleviate ultrafiltration membrane fouling[D]. Nanchang：East China Jiao Tong University，2021. 徐璠璠. 膜前预处理工艺对缓解超滤膜污染的研究[D]. 南昌：华东交通大学，2021.
[13]	ZHENG C Z，JIANG S，SUN G S，et al. Performance and mechanism of gravity-driven ultrafiltration technology in treating high turbidity water[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2024，60（5）：33– 41. 郑成志，姜舒，孙国胜，等. 重力驱动超滤技术处理高浊水的效能及机制研究[J]. 给水排水，2024，60（5）：33-41.
[14]	WANG H. Study on ultrafiltration combined process optimization and performance evaluation[D]. Harbin：Harbin Institute of Technology，2014. 王辉. 超滤组合工艺优化与运行效能研究[D]. 哈尔滨：哈尔滨工业大学，2014.
[15]	DONG B Z，SUN F，YAN Z H，et al. Application of in-line coagulation combined process in small town drinking water purification[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2007（12）：27-31. 董秉直，孙飞，闫昭晖，等. 在线混凝—超滤联用工艺用于小城镇给水的应用研究[J]. 给水排水，2007（12）：27-31.
[16]	XU Q Q，DONG B Z，LIU K Q，et al. The pilot experiment of whole membrane technology for treatment of Taihu Lake[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2020，56（4）：76-81. 胥倩倩，董秉直，刘坤乔，等. 全膜深度处理工艺处理太湖水的中试研究[J]. 给水排水，2020，56（4）：76-81.
[17]	ZHOU S，SHAO Y，GAO N，et al. Characterization of algal organic matters of microcystis aeruginosa：biodegradability，DBP formation and membrane fouling potential[J]. Water Research，2014，52：199-207.
[18]	LIU X，LIU W G，REN J，et al. Effect of ozonation on UF membrane fouling in reclaimed WWTPs[J]. Water Purification Technology，2025，44（6）：108-115. 刘欣，刘伟刚，任杰，等. 臭氧氧化对再生水厂超滤膜污染的影响分析[J]. 净水技术，2025，44（6）：108-115.
[19]	RITZ M. Infrared and raman spectroscopy of mullite ceramics synthesized from fly ash and kaolin[J]. Minerals，2023，13（7）：864.
[20]	LIAN Z L，LI X，YU H K，et al. Performance evaluation and membrane fouling characteristics of long-term operation of PVC alloy ultrafiltration membrane[J]. China Water& Wastewater，2018，34（13）：1-6. 连震雷，李星，于海宽，等. PVC合金超滤膜运行7年效能及膜污染特性研究[J]. 中国给水排水，2018，34（13）：1-6.