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Membrane Processes for Reclamation of Municipal Wastewater 469
ammonia in the feed (29–42 mg/L). Alkalinity in the RO permeate ranged of 11–34 mg/L as
CaCO3 and boron in the RO permeate was 0.3–0.7 mg/L, which sometimes did not meet the
requirements. TOC in the RO permeate fluctuated in a wide range of 0.075–8.5 mg/L due to
the fluctuation of TOC contamination in the RO feed (3.2–56.7 mg/L).
The very high TOC level in the feed could be caused by high contamination of organic
solvent in industrial waste which was mainly due to illegal discharges from the industries,
resulting in the upset operation of sewage treatment. A strong smell of solvent was occasionally
noted near the discharge outfall of the effluent. The RO permeate with TOC 8.5 mg/L on
December 20, 2004 was analyzed by GC and methanol of 2.4 mg/L was determined.
Nitrate in the RO feed was low at