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Direct Membrane Filtration for municipal wastewater treatment: Developing a membrane process
Summary
This study developed and evaluated a Direct Membrane Filtration concept for municipal wastewater treatment that integrates microsieving, microfiltration/ultrafiltration, and activated carbon polishing. Pilot studies in Sweden and Norway demonstrated that the process efficiently separates organic matter and can produce permeate suitable for advanced treatment.
This work presents the development and evaluation of a Direct Membrane Filtration (DMF) concept for municipal wastewater treatment, integrating microsieving, microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF), and downstream polishing with activated carbon. DMF enables the efficient separation of particulate organic matter directly from raw wastewater, producing a retentate suitable for enhanced biogas production and a permeate that can be upgraded for advanced treatment. Pilot studies conducted at Källby WWTP (Sweden) and FREVAR WWTP (Norway) demonstrate that the DMF process achieves effluent quality compliant with discharge limits for small and medium-sized plants, while significantly reducing footprint and treatment steps. Results show substantial removal of COD, TOC, phosphorus, and nitrogen through microsieving and MF/UF, and more than 97% removal of 26 monitored micropollutants after granulated activated carbon filtration. The study highlights DMF as an energy‑efficient, compact, and scalable alternative to conventional treatment, with ongoing research focusing on microplastics and emerging contaminant removal.