Application of ultrafiltration membrane-embedded activated carbon-filter in Kuwait wastewater treatment in comparison with a conventional method

Availability of clean water especially for countries with scarce freshwater resources is of great importance. Recently, ultrafiltration water purification membrane technology has been widely investigated to overcome this problem. In this study, an ultrafiltration membrane incorporated with an activated carbon filter (UF-AC) is used to treat the municipal wastewater in Kuwait, and its efficiency and economic analysis of the method is compared with the conventional method primary (solid removal), secondary (bacterial decomposition), and tertiary (disinfection) that is currently used. The treated influent samples by UF-AC revealed high reduction percentage, for total suspended solids (TSS) (98.37%), biological oxygen demand (BOD) (91.73%), turbidity (99.85%), coliform, fecal coliform, and salmonella bacteria (99.99%). However, for conventional method were for TSS (89.13%), BOD (91.6%), and turbidity (96.88%). The results for effluent water, showed further reduction percentage. The suitability of the treated water was compared to the recommended Kuwait Environment Public Authority standard irrigation limits. The results show that the UF-AC membrane is quite similar or more effective than the conventional method in contaminants removal and the purified water can be utilized for irrigation purposes. Furthermore, based on the economical results of this study, the UF-AC unit can be economically used in the wastewater treatment plant in Kuwait.