Isolation, concentration and fractionation of neutral organic matter from natural waters

What is it about?

Beside the well studied XAD isolates, this fractionation method isolates a new important fraction: THE NEUTRAL DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER, A NEVER BEEN STUDIED FRACTION. Organic matter in the natural fresh waters is a key component in the water and carbon cycles; it interacts with light, bacteria, inorganic species, sediments...playing vital roles (purification, food,...). It is involved in various bio geo chemical natural processes; it could be also involved in environmental (colour, odor, taste, pollution...) and water treatment process (desinfection by products, membrane fouling,...) issues. A better understanding of these positive and negative roles needs a deep knowledge of this very complex organic matter matrice. Fractionation and analysis of this matrice are thus actively investigated. The XAD techniques are the most used fractionation methods using expensive resins, high purity solvents...and based on polarity separation. This research work proposes a low cost and simple alternative method based on charge separation and neutal molecules isolation. In order to do that, an ion exchange mixed bed fixes all water charged species isolating neutral organic matter in the demineralised water which is concentrated, without any osmotic pressure nor fouling, by reverse osmosis. Finally, this neutral organic matter is nanofiltered isolating low molecular weight neutrals. One of the reviewers writes: "this is a very good paper".

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Why is it important?

This new IXMBed - RO - NF method, allows to: - concentrate traces neutral species (pollutants...) - study membrane fouling properties of this specific fraction; -study corrosive and biofouling properties in demineralised waters and boilers, ultrapure water...

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