Ultrafiltration in producing drinking water from humic ground waters

The efficiency of ultrafiltration in drinking water treatment of Danish humic ground waters was investigated. Membranes with pore sizes corresponding to molecular weight cut-offs (MWCO) ranging from 300–2000 g/mol were tested. The removal of organic matter depended on molecular weight distribution of the organic matter and ultrafiltration process parameters (applied pressure, membrane material, and the pore size of the employed membrane). Also, the presence of other compounds in the water, such as iron, affected the process. With the ultrafiltration technique, drinking water could be even obtained from very humic ground waters.