US EPA

7598538 

Journal Article 

A study of membrane filtration for the removal of cyanobacterial cells 

Chã³W, CWK; Panglisch, S; House, J; Drikas, M; Burch, MD; Gimbel, R 

1997 

1 

Aqua
ISSN: 0003-7214
EISSN: 1365-2087 

46 

6 

324-334 

English 

Low-pressure membrane filtration, particularly microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF), has received considerable attention recently and in some cases can be considered as an economically viable alternative to conventional water treatment techniques. In principle, membrane filtration appears to be an attractive method of algal removal. This is because its removal efficiency should be less influenced by some raw water quality parameters which have an overriding influence on the performance of other conventional treatment processes. In this study, a specially designed experimental flat sheet membrane filtration unit was employed to examine the removal of the toxic cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, which is commonly found in drinking water reservoirs. The study focused mainly on the effect of membrane filtration on the cyanobacterial cells. Two commercially available flat sheet membranes, MF and UF, operated under both dead-end (DE) and cross-flow (CF) modes were evaluated. Measurements used to assess their effect included fluorescence microscopy with fluorochromes to determine cell integrity (total cell count and cell viability); and leakage of cell pigment (chlorophyll-a) and toxin (microcystin-LR) into the filtrate as an indicator of cell membrane damage and release of cell metabolites. The results showed that only a small proportion of the cells were damaged by the treatment but there was no significant increase of toxin in the permeate with all modes of filtration. 

Algae control; Cells; Membranes; Potable water; Reverse osmosis; Ultrafiltration; Water quality; Water treatment; Cell integrity; Cyanobacterial cells; Membrane filtration; Microcystis aeruginosa; Microfiltration; Water filtration; filtration; membrane; removal; water quality