Virus removal by slow sand filtration and nanofiltration

M. T. Yahya, C. B. Cluff, C. P. Gerba

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Water utilities, especially smaller ones, are having increasing difficulties proving increased treatment requirements required in the United States for the removal of chemical and microbial contaminates in drinking water. This project sought to evaluate the virus removal potential of combined slow sand filtration and nanofiltration by a pilot plant for application to a small utility which uses a surface water supply. Nanofiltration is a relatively new water treatment technology which has become available since 1986. It is similar to reverse osmosis but has a higher molecular weight cut-off and is less costly to operate. The bacteriophages MS-2 (28 nm) and PRD-1 (65 nm) were seeded into surface water entering a pilot plant and samples collected after sand filtration, nanofiltration, and of the nanofilter reject water. These phages were selected for study because of their small size and poor adsorption to surfaces. The slow sand filter removed 99% of the MS-2 and 99.9% of the PRD-1. There was between a 4 to 6 log reduction of the phages by the nonofilters. PRD-1 was removed to a greater extent than MS-2 by both the sand filter and the nanofilters.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)445-448
Number of pages4
JournalWater Science and Technology
Volume27
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 16th Biennial Conference and Exposition of the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control - Washington, DC, USA
Duration: May 24 1992May 30 1992

Keywords

  • Bacteriophage
  • Nanofiltration
  • Slow sand filtration
  • Surface water
  • Virus
  • Water treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology

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