Comparing the phenomenological and hydrodynamic modeling approaches for describing the rejection of emerging nonionic organic contaminants by a Nanofiltration membrane

As a barrier for emerging organic contaminants, integrated membrane systems using reverse osmosis or nanofiltration have been favored for drinking water augmentation projects using reclaimed water or other impaired water sources. Although these membranes are an efficient barrier to the majority of emerging trace organic chemicals, various organic solutes, especially non-ionic compounds, have been detected in membrane permeate samples. This study investigated the use of three models, the phenomenological, the hydrodynamic, and a newly developed geometric-hydrodynamic model, to describe the mass transport of non-ionic organic solutes during nanofiltration. For compounds not expected to display strong membrane interactions, the modeling approaches examined during this study can provide a good estimation of rejection as a function of permeate flux when the rejection performance of a given membrane is characterized.