Seasonal variation of organic matter concentration and characteristics in the Maji ya Chai River (Tanzania): Impact on treatability by ultrafiltration

Geert Aschermann; Azam Jeihanipour; Junjie Shen; Godfrey Mkongo; Laure Dramas; Jean-Philippe Croué; Andrea Schäfer

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2016.05.022

Seasonal variation of organic matter concentration and characteristics in the Maji ya Chai River (Tanzania): Impact on treatability by ultrafiltration

Water Res. 2016 Sep 15:101:370-381. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.05.022. Epub 2016 May 7.

Authors

Geert Aschermann¹, Azam Jeihanipour², Junjie Shen³, Godfrey Mkongo⁴, Laure Dramas⁵, Jean-Philippe Croué⁶, Andrea Schäfer⁷

Affiliations

¹ Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Water and Environmental Science and Engineering, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania(1).
² Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
³ Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Water and Environmental Science and Engineering, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania(1); School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom.
⁴ Ngurdoto Defluoridation Research Station, P.O. Box 482, Usa River, Tanzania.
⁵ Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Curtin Water Quality Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Curtin University, Perth WA, Australia.
⁷ Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Water and Environmental Science and Engineering, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania(1); Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany. Electronic address: Andrea.Iris.Schaefer@kit.edu.

PMID: 27288671
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.05.022

Abstract

Many waters in Tanzania exhibit high concentrations of organic matter and dissolved contaminants such as fluoride. Due to bacteria and virus removal, ultrafiltration (UF) is an attractive option for drinking water treatment, and when coupled with adsorbents, may compete with other established processes like nanofiltration (NF) for lower contaminant concentrations. The results presented here examine the characteristics and treatability of tropical natural organic matter (NOM) by UF as a function of seasonal variation. The Tanzanian river Maji ya Chai was sampled monthly during one year. The composition of NOM in Maji ya Chai River is influenced strongly by precipitation. Total organic carbon (TOC), specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) and concentration of allochthonous organics substances (such as humic substances (HS)) are elevated in periods following high precipitation, while TOC is lower and contains more biopolymers in the dry seasons. UF experiments with two regenerated cellulose membranes of different molecular weight cut-off (MWCO, 5 and 10 kDa) were conducted. UF is able to remove 50-95% of TOC with a seasonal variability of 10-20%. Due to the remaining NOM in the water that would contribute to disinfection by-product formation and bacterial regrowth, the physically disinfected water is more applicable for point of use systems than distribution or storage.

Keywords: Liquid chromatography organic carbon detection (LC-OCD); Organic matter; Surface water; Ultrafiltration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Organic Chemicals
Rivers*
Seasons
Tanzania
Ultrafiltration*
Water Purification

Substances

Organic Chemicals