System and method for removal of recalcitrant organic compounds from water

1. A method for removing contaminants from water comprising the steps of:

1) providing a pressurized sorption reactor which is in fluid communication with an influent line accepting an influent flow of water to be treated and a sub-micron powdered activated carbon (SPAC) feed line in fluid communication with the influent line;

2) adding 0.5 to 2.0 grams of carbon/liter (i.e. 500 to 2,000 mg of carbon/liter) of sub-micron powdered activated carbon (SPAC) to an influent flow of water to be treated in the influent line;

3) combining the SPAC with the water to be treated, equating to 500 to 2,000 mg of carbon/liter of a volume of the pressurized sorption reactor;

4) introducing a SPAC and water mixture into the pressurized sorption reactor for treatment, the pressurized sorption reactor having at least one horizontal baffle;

5) permitting the mixture to remain in the pressurized sorption reactor for a maximum 30 to 60 minute retention time for the SPAC to adsorb contaminants in the water; and

6) a slurry effluent line in communication with a discharge of the sorption reactor and a recycle pump in the slurry effluent line;

7) transferring the mixture from the pressurized sorption reactor using the slurry effluent line and recycle pump to a ceramic membrane filter unit operating in cross-flow filtration wherein the treated water is discharged as permeate and the SPAC is returned to the pressurized sorption reactor as retentate;

8) a permeate line in fluid communication with the ceramic membrane filter for removing the treated water as permeate;

9) a permeate tank;

10) a retentate line in fluid communication with the ceramic membrane filter and the sorption reactor to return the SPAC to the influent line;

11) a concentrate line for removing SPAC;

12) periodically backwashing the ceramic membrane filter using a backwash line in fluid communication with a backwash pump, a backwash valve, a backwash tank, the permeate tank and the permeate line;

13) removing the SPAC and adsorbed contaminant concentrate from the ceramic membrane filter via the concentrate line upon the SPAC losing its capacity of adsorbing contaminants; and

14) adding new SPAC to the influent flow of water to continue contaminant removal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the influent flow is 1 Q and the mixture of SPAC and influent is pumped at 10 times the influent (10 Q) from the pressurized sorption reactor to the ceramic membrane filter via the slurry line.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the permeate is discharged at a rate of 1 times the influent flow from the ceramic membrane filter and the retentate is returned to the pressurized sorption reactor at a rate of 9 times the influent flow (9 Q).

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the SPAC has a mean particle diameter below approximately 1 micron.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the SPAC and adsorbed contaminants are thickened for removal by terminating the influent flow to the pressurized sorption reactor and continuing operation of the recycle pump until the retentate is thickened and is thereafter removed via the concentrate line for disposal.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the ceramic membrane filter has a nominal pore size barrier of approximately 0.1 microns.