Organic colloidal contaminants substances

Humic and FULVIC acids, along with other organic colloidal materials, are fascinating substances that can have profound environmental consequences. Their abilities to complex radionuclides and toxic metals have been recognized for some time by researchers interested in the migration and mobilization of nuclear and industrial waste at contaminated sites. The micellar properties of humic and fulvic acids also give them the ability to play important roles in the solubilization and transport of hydrophobic pollutants. 

Kogel-Knabner, I. Totsche, K. U. (1998) Influence of dissolved and colloidal phase humic substances on the transport of hydrophobic organic contaminants in soils. Phys. Chem. Earth 23(2), 179-185. 

Removes coarse materials that may cause cake/gel layer formation on downstream membranes Selectively removes contaminants or other particles that are sticky to filter media and downstream membranes Partially removes microorganisms that can cause biofouling Particulate and colloidal organic/inorganic substances, microbiota... 

Besides the corrosion products, there are other impurities present in the reactor water, such as silicate and organic compounds. Their possible significance in the process of activity buildup has scarcely been investigated. These substances can form complex compounds with dissolved metal ions or modify the chemical properties of the colloidal matter by adsorption. However, in modern BWR plants the silicon and carbon contents in the reactor water are extremely low, on the order of a few ppb during steady-state operation (Thornton, 1992). They are, therefore, not expected to have any noticeable influence on the contamination levels. 

In the production and processing of chemical, semichemical and mechanical pulps and recovered paper, various inorganic and organic substances are accumulated in dissolved or colloidal dissolved form. Other water-soluble substances enter with the fresh water, fillers, recycled uncoated and coated paper broke and also by chemical additives. As the process water circuits are increasingly closed, the concentration of these water-soluble and colloidal substances and finely dispersed particles increases considerably and an additional contaminant load is thus imposed on the waste water. These substances interfere with the production process by increasing build-ups and deposits, they reduce the efficiency of the chemical additives, and impair the quality of the produced paper. Therefore these substances are also classed as detrimental substances (Fig. 3.18). 

---