Removal of Waterborne Particles by Electrofiltration: Pilot-Scale Testing

Details

• Personal Author:
  Biswas P ; Carns K ; Ehrhard R ; Krishnan R ; Kulkarn P ; Li Y ; Patterson C ; Sinha R
• Description:
  Theoretical analysis using a trajectory approach indicated that in the presence of an external electric field, charged waterborne particles are subject to an additional migration velocity that increases their deposition on the surface of collectors (e. g., sand filter). Although researchers conducted bench-scale experiments to verify the effectiveness of electrofiltration, few studies have reported on the applications of electrofiltration in larger scale facilities. In this study, a prototype pilot-scale electrofiltration unit, consisting of an acrylic tank (0.3 x 0.3 x 1.2 m) with vertically placed stainless steel mesh electrodes embedded in a sand filter was tested at a local drinking water plant. Presedimentation basin water was used as the influent with a turbidity ranging from 12 to 37 NTU. At an approach velocity of 0.84 mm/s, an electrode voltage at 8 and 12V increased the particle removal coefficient pC* [defined as -log(C-out/C-in)] to 1.79 and 1.86, respectively, compared to 1.48 when there was no electric field. Reducing the approach velocity from 0.84 to 0.42 mm/s increased pC* from 1.48 to 1.64, when the electrode velocity was 16 V. Repetitive experiments were conducted and the results were in agreement with those calculated by a theoretical trajectory analysis. The electrofiltration process was demonstrated to be more effective for removal of smaller particles (< 4 mu m), the size range of many waterborne bacteria. A voltage of 8-12V was shown to be the most cost-effective range, considering both the energy cost and filtration performance. The findings from this pilot-scale study are important for full-scale applications of the electrofiltration technology. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Electricity Engineering Environmental Monitoring Ergonomics Filtration Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Water Purification
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Water Treatment Collection Efficiency Drinking Water Electrical-fields Electrofiltration Engineering-controls Environmental-control-equipment Environmental-engineering Filter-materials Filters Mathematical-models Particulates Pathogens Sanitary-engineering Trajectory Analysis Water-purification Waterborne Particles

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• ISSN:
  1092-8758
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Missouri ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  26
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20036244
• Citation:
  Environ Eng Sci 2009 Dec; 26(12):1795-1803
• Contact Point Address:
  Pratim Biswas, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
• Email:
  pratim.biswas@wustl.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Engineering Science
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:80b4d4dc770fde46a52d181bab614f64dfb266453e6e5513448241f4c6e0b3ef4cf0085dc7b5a89d80f6a642b5003aea3764cf8a633eded2819965d52409f2ff
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187737/cdc_187737_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 365.35 KB ]