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Ceramic microfiltration combined with powdered activated carbon adsorption (PAC-MF) was tested for organic and microbial control using river water laden with sewerage effluents. The PAC-MF was compactly configured with PAC adsorption and MF filtration zones in one reactor. It was operated with PAC addition of 20 g/L at the beginning without PAC drain. Organic matter was largely removed in the adsorption zone and then additional removal was obtained in the filtration zone. Selective adsorption of hydrophobic organic compounds onto PAC resulted in greater UV260 removal of 90.3 ± 3.2% than DOC removal of 80.2 ± 8.6%. Efficient organic control of the PAC-MF considerably decreased chlorine consumption to less than 0.5 ± 0.08 mg/L, and thus THMFP was brought down to less than 8.8 ± 2.2 µg/L in permeate. Furthermore, adsorption or attraction potential of microorganisms by PAC addition as well as virus capture in the PAC cake layer also assisted ceramic MF to remove viruses to less than detection limit after 60 days of operation. Therefore, the hybrid PAC-MF is a prospective advanced water treatment process that is capable of simultaneous organic and microbial removal by adsorption and filtration mechanisms.

The organic and microbial control using pilotscale ceramic microfiltration combined with powdered activated carbon adsorption was investigated for surface water treatment. Different module types with 120 and 11 tubes were used for submerged membrane reactors and 20 g/L of PAC was added one time at the start of membrane operation. Selective adsorption of hydrophobic organic compounds by PAC addition resulted in greater UV260 removal of 90.3 ± 3.2% than DOC removal of 80.2 ± 8.6%. NOM was largely removed in the adsorption zone and then additional removal was obtained by MF filtration and minor adsorption of accumulated carbon in the MF filtration zone. This efficient organic control by the PAC-MF could reduce chlorine consumption to 0.5 ± 0.08 mg/L and THMFP of permeate to 8.8 ± 2.2 µg/L. Removal efficiency of NOM and THM precursors and reduction of chlorine consumption by the PACMF was greater than O3 + GAC process. Furthermore, adsorption or attraction potential of microorganisms by PAC addition as well as virus capture in the PAC cake layer also assisted ceramic MF to remove viruses to less than detection limit. Therefore, this hybrid system is a prospective advanced water treatment process that makes use of both adsorption and filtration mechanisms.