Membrane operators around the world face fouling by organic matter in the feed water as the biggest challenge in achieving operation efficiency. To understand membrane fouling by organic matter in a better way, we need to explore into the matrix that binds water-born organics together and their physico-chemical properties. The interaction of these so called natural organic matter with the surface and pores of polymeric membranes becomes more important in the study. Splitting the water matrix into different size fractions using ceramic membrane filtration is the technique used in this study. So the paper discusses a few important experimental trials used to study the technique in detail.

Keywords: Water/NOM fractionation, Diafiltration, Fouling minimization, NOM, model solutions, membrane capillaries, hybrid coagulation-UF/MF process