Advanced treatment of domestic sewage through ceramic ultrafiltration, catalytic ozonation and activated carbon adsorption in pilot-scale study

A process combining ceramic ultrafiltration, catalytic ozonation, and adsorption by activated carbon was applied and evaluated for the advanced treatment of domestic effluent from a biological aerated filter in a pilot scale. The main operating parameters such as operating pressure and ozone dose were optimized, and a stable operation was conducted for 30 days. The results showed that the chemical oxygen demand was decreased from 30 & PLUSMN; 10 mg L-1 to less than 15 mg L-1, ammonium nitrogen was reduced from 2.5 & PLUSMN; 0.5 mg L-1 to less than 1.0 mg L-1, chroma became colorless from the dilution times of 32, and suspended solids as well as Escherichia coli were completely removed from the initial concentration of 20 & PLUSMN; 5 mg L-1 and at least 2.4 x 10(6) MPN L-1, respectively. The removal of chemical oxygen demand and chroma was mainly attributed to the synergetic effect of the ultrafiltration and catalytic ozonation, the removal of suspended solids and Escherichia coli was associated with the ultrafiltration, and the removal of ammonium nitrogen mainly resulted from the activated carbon adsorption. The quality of the effluent would be close to the water quality standard III of surface water, and the electricity cost calculated in the optimal conditions was 0.79 kW h t(-1).