Background and Objective: Growing concerns over disinfection by-products (DBPs) resulting from conventional chlorination necessitate the exploration of alternative approaches in water treatment. This study investigates the efficiency of a combined system comprising ozonation and ceramic membrane filtration for drinking water treatment.
Materials and Methods: A ceramic membrane was fabricated using the slip-casting method, characterized, and evaluated for performance. Ozonation efficiency was assessed by injecting 1 g of ozone into a 2.5 L sample (concentration of 0.02 g/L) for 3 minutes. Water quality was monitored by measuring turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), major anions and cations, as well as microbiological indicators, including coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli.
Results: Morphological examination confirmed the porous structure of the membrane. The flux test results showed that the membrane flux decreased from 475 Lmh to 313 Lmh, with 96% recovery through backwashing. The membrane reduced turbidity from 1.72 NTU to 0.5 NTU, representing a 71% removal efficiency compared to the pre-filtration sample. Ozonation had no effect on water turbidity but achieved complete removal of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli. In contrast, membrane filtration achieved 66% removal of these bacteria.
Conclusion: Membrane filtration removes the majority of contaminants when employed as a complementary method to either ozonation or chlorination, allowing for the subsequent use of a mild disinfectant to eliminate remaining trace microbial content. The combined application of low-concentration ozonation and chlorination prevents the formation of DBPs, representing a step toward providing safer and healthier drinking water.
