Patent ID: 6428705
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
A process for removing contaminants from large volumes of wastewater comprising the steps of:(a) treating a wastewater stream containing the contaminant with a chemical coagulant, wherein the coagulant reacts with the contaminant to form a particulate or aggregate of particulates that has a size greater than about 10 &mgr;m; (b) passing the treated wastewater through a microfiltration membrane having a pore size in the range from 0.5 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m, wherein the treated wastewater flux rate is greater than 200 gallons per square foot of membrane per day (â€œGFDâ€ ), and wherein the wastewater pressure is less than 25 psig, such that the contaminant is removed from water passing through the microfiltration membrane; and (c) periodically back-flushing the microfiltration membrane to remove solids from the membrane surface.