Iranian Journal of

Background and Objectives: Natural organic matters (NOMs) are abundant in natural water resources and in many ways may affect the unit processes in water treatment. Although NOMs are considered harmless but they have been recognized as disinfection by-products (DBPs) precursors during the chlorination process. Formation of DBPs highly depends on the composition and concentration of NOMs. The objective of this study was to determine natural organic matter and its fractions concentrations in the surface water sources of Tehran.Materials and Methods: Water sampling was conducted monthly between May to July in three rivers of Lar, Jajrood and Karaj, as the main drinking water supplying sources in Tehran. Quantitative parameters of pH, EC, UV₂₅₄ and DOC were studied based on standard methods. The XAD-7 resin method was used for fractionation of NOMs.Results: Results showed that NOM concentrations in Lar, Jajrood and Karaj rivers were 8.53, 12.9 and 11.3 mg/L, respectively. The HPO (hydrophobic) fraction was predominant compared to the HPI (hydrophilic) fraction in water samples. The mean of total percent of HPO and HPI fractions were about 57% and 43%, respectively.Conclusion: Since the hydrophobic NOM fraction exhibits higher trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) than hydrophilic part, Tehran water chlorination exhibits higher THMFP than haloacetic acid formation potential (HAAFP). The information obtained from this study may be further employed in the design of the control techniques and management strategies for the water treatment plant, especially for DBPs reduction.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Improvement of water quality standards and inability of mono layer filters in producing such quality caused researchers attended to multi layer filters. Due to specific characteristics of anthracite and leca can improve removal of organic materials and Surface over flow rate. The aim of this research was evaluation performance of dual media filters (anthracite/leca) in removing of organic materials and turbidity from Ahvaz Water treatment plant
Materials and Methods: In this study two pilots built for investigation of mono layer filter and dual media filter performance. The researcher used sand in structure's media of mono layer filter and composition of anthracite, sand and leca in structure's media of dual media filter, respectively.  In this study single and dual layer filter pilot examined in term of organic matter and turbidity removal efficiency. 
Results: Results indicated that removal of organic matter by single layer filter (sand), dual media filter (anthracite,  and sand), dual media filter (leca and sand) was 7%,12%,4/2% respectively. And also Turbidity removal by single layer filter(sand), dual media filter (anthracite and sand), dual media filter (leca and sand) was also  69%, 80%, 74% respectively.
Conclusion: Results of this study showed that upgrading of Single layer to dual layer with anthracite and leca media can‘t show a significant affect in TOC removal.

Background and Objectives: One of the complete treatment processes for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment is membrane bioreactor process which has dominant potential in process and operation sections. This study was conducted to compare the performance of extended aeration activated sludge (EAAS) with submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) systems in the treatment of strength wastewater, in the same condition.
Materials and Methods: The initial activated sludge was brought from the Plascokar Saipa wastewater plant. The Plexiglas reactor with effective volume of 758 L was separated by a baffle into the aeration and secondary sedimentation parts with effective volumes of 433 L and 325 L, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of the influent wastewater of the EAAS and SMBR systems were between 500-2700 and 500-5000 mg/L, respectively.
Results: Results showed that the SMBR system produced a much better quality effluent than EAAS system in terms of COD, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS) and ammonium. By increasing the COD concentration, the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and the removal efficiency of organic matter in the SMBR system, were increased regularly, however the removal efficiency of COD in the EAAS system was irregular. 
Conclusion: The average BOD5/COD ratio of effluent in the EAAS and SMBR systems were 0.708±0.18 and 0.537±0.106, respectively. These show that the organic matters in the effluent of the SMBR system was less degradable and thereupon more biological treatment was achieved. Nitrification process was completely done in the SMBR system while the EAAS system could not achieve to complete nitrification.

Background and Objective: Natural organic matters (NOM) are known as precursors to disinfection byproducts. As conventional treatment processes cannot get disinfection by-product standards, novel methods have been increasingly applied for the removal of disinfection by-products precursors. The UV/ZnO process is one of the advanced oxidation processes using photocatalytic technology. The present study aims to investigate the effect of UV/ZnO photocatalytic technology on the NOM removal from aqueous solution. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in a lab-scale batch photocatalytic reactor. The volume of reactor was 1liter and covered with UV lamps. Peristaltic pump was used for complete mixing. Humic acid is a key component of natural organic matter and it was used in this study. Each of the samples taken from the UV/ZnO process and other processes were analyzed for their UV absorbance at 254 nm by spectrophotometric. Initial concentration of Humic acid, contact time, pH, and UV irradiation were investigated. Results: The highest efficiency of the UV/ZnO photocatalytic process for removal of Humic acid from aqueous solution was achieved at initial concentration = 2 mg/L, contact time = 120 min, UV irradiation = 3950 µw/cm², and pH=3. In this process, the removal efficiency for 2 mg/L humic acid was 100 % at 2h retention time. Conclusion: The research showed that performance of system was increased by increasing contact time and UV irradiation and was decreased by increasing HA initial concentration and pH and UV radiation with ZnO agent could not remove NOM lonely. Photocatalytic system using zinc oxide immobilized on glass have high performance to remove humic acid from aqueous solution. The UV/ZnO process was efficient and environmental friendly for natural organic matter removal.

Background and Objective: Natural organic matters (NOMs) are a mixture of chemically complex polyelectrolytes with varying molecular weights, produced mainly from the decomposition of plants and animal residues. Various purification methods are used for removal of NOMs from water. The objective of this study was to remove NOMs from aqueous solution using reformed continuous carbon nanotubes column. Materials and Methods: The removal of NOMs from aqueous solution using reformed continuous carbon nanotubes column was studied. Effect of several variables such as zero point of pH (pH_ZPC), pH, influent concentration of natural organic matters were studied and different isotherms were assessed. Results: Investigation of pH effect showed that the adsorbability of NOMs increased with decreasing of pH. The experiments indicated that carbon nanotubes (CNT) samples exhibit pH_ZPC around 6. Results from Freundlich, Langmuir, and BET isotherm experiments revealed that the correlation coefficient R² in Freundlich model was higher than that of Langmuir. In addition, experiments of continuous flow in different initial concentrations of NOMs showed that the adsorption capacities of CNT were 53.46, 30.40, and 24.75 mg/g for NOMs initial concentrations of 10, 5, and 3 mg/L, respectively. Conclusion: The present study shows that CNTs have high potential for adsorption of NOMs from aqueous solution

Background & Objectives: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered as important organic contaminants due to their high toxicity and carcinogenic properties. Among PAHs, phenanthrene is found in most contaminated sites. Sorption and desorption of phenanthrene in soil affect the fate of the contaminant in soil-water system. Presence of organic matter (OM) in the soil matrix can also affect sorption and desorption of phenantherene. In this research, effect of soil organic matter on sorption of phenanthrene in kaolin soil was studied. Materials & Methods: The sorption of sorption of phenanthrene in kaolin clay was assessed in the presence and absence of organic matter. These two soil types were used in batch sorption experiments of Phenanthrene to determine the sorption properties. Results: It was found that organic matter increases the cation exchange capacity, water content, and pH of the soil. Sorption of phenantherene in both kaolin and OM-added kaolin was better fitted with Freundlich linear model. Moreover. soil organic matter increased phenanthrene sorption in soil. Conclusion: It was observed that with 41.04% increase in OM, distribution coefficient of phenanthrene sorption in soil increased by 36.69%.