CAOG - PhD Students

Mr Brad Allpike

Investigation of the MIEX^® Water Treatment Process as a Tool for Removal of Natural Organic Matter From Drinking Waters

The reaction of NOM with chlorine and other disinfectants to produce disinfection by-products (DBPs), some of which are of public health concern, is one problematic aspect of NOM. To achieve increased removal of NOM and eliminate taste and odour incidents, the Western Australian Water Corporation has introduced a magnetic ion exchange resin (MIEX^®) treatment plant into the conventional treatment scheme at the Wanneroo groundwater treatment plant. Initial trials have shown increased removal of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fraction of the NOM after implementation of the new MIEX^® plant. The majority of DBP precursors are reported to be found in the lower molecular weight (MW) fractions of NOM. Conventional treatment preferentially removes the higher MW fractions of NOM. Initial studies in this research indicate that the MIEX^® process removes more of the lower MW fraction of NOM, making it a complementary process to conventional coagulation. This project aims to characterise the fractions of NOM that are preferentially removed by MIEX^® and those that remain after MIEX^® treatment. The nature of these fractions will be compared to those removed by, and remaining after, conventional treatment.

Supervisors

Dr C. Joll, Dr A. Heitz, Professor R. Kagi

Funding

APAI, CRCWQT, Water Corporation