Project Reference: ITS/108/09FP English Title: Advanced Ozone Membrane Technology for Treatment of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Water <中文按此> Programme: Innovation and Technology Support Programme Project Period: 1 October 2009 – 30 September 2011 Recipient Organization: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Collaborating Organization(s): Anjou Recherches Chiaphua Industries Limited Veolia Water South China Limited Project Coordinator: King-lun YEUNG Deputy Project Coordinator: Joseph Kai-cho KWAN Funds Approved: HK$ 1,337,000 Abstract: There are more than 100,000 natural and synthetic chemicals used in households, industry and agriculture, and there is growing evidence that a significant number of chemicals in medicine, personal care products and household items known to be endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are not effectively treated by today’s conventional wastewater and water treatment plants. The potential risk of chronic exposure to EDCs in humans has not been adequately addressed to date, but their effects on normal hormonal processes are well documented and there is strong evidence of their adverse effects in wildlife. The goal of this project is to develop an advanced ozone membrane process for treatment of these low-level but potent pollutants. The technology synergistically combines the only three known technologies that show promise in treating broad spectrum EDC pollutants, i.e., (1) ozone oxidation, (2) adsorption and (3) membrane separation to establish a compact and efficient treatment unit that could be applied for both household use and in large-scale drinking water treatment plants. This project will create new products that could be manufactured in Hong Kong and China for environmental control, significantly broadening the range of products and services that could be offered by the emerging environmental industry in Hong Kong and China. The social impact of the project is considerable because of its contribution to enhancing Hong Kong’s and China’s environment and health. Deliverables: 1. An advanced ozone membrane process that uses membranes as the ozone distributor,reaction contactor and water separator to concentrate, capture and destroy endocrine disrupting compounds found in water
2. A porous membrane for ozone distributor that enhances mass transfer rate by at least 50% compared to glass sparger
3.A membrane separator to concentrate the EDC pollutants by permeating clean water (i.e., < 1 ppm TOCs)
4. An adsorbent coating for membrane contactor based on safe and environmentally benign mineral clay for capture of EDCs and EDCs degradates
5.An advanced ozone membrane prototype unit designed to convert target EDCs by greater than 95 % and degrade by at least 90 %
6.Design a prototype unit for domestic household use and test performance for at least 60 days
7. Use process simulation software to design a scale-up advanced ozone membrane unit for drinking water treatment plant
