Effectiveness of the membrane bioreactor in the biodegradation of high molecular-weight compounds

1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Winnen ◽  
M. T. Suidan ◽  
P. V. Scarpino ◽  
B. Wrenn ◽  
N. Cicek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Heterotrophic Microorganisms

The activated sludge process has been used extensively to treat municipal wastewater. The membrane bioreactor (MBR) process is a modification of the conventional activated sludge process where the clarifier is replaced with a membrane system for separation between the mixed liquor and the effluent. This paper presents the biological and physical performance data of a pilot-scale membrane bioreactor system, fed with a synthetic wastewater. At steady state, particularly high effluent quality was obtained and maintained for an extended period of time. Heterotrophic plate counting showed that the membrane retains heterotrophic microorganisms. Bacteriophage MS-2 was used to determine the retention of viruses. The membrane proved to retain the MS-2 virus.

scholarly journals LCA of a Membrane Bioreactor Compared to Activated Sludge System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Membranes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Dimitra C. Banti ◽  
Michail Tsangas ◽  
Petros Samaras ◽  
Antonis Zorpas
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems are connected to several advantages compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) units. This work aims to the examination of the life cycle environmental impact of an MBR against a CAS unit when treating municipal wastewater with similar influent loading (BOD = 400 mg/L) and giving similar high-quality effluent (BOD < 5 mg/L). The MBR unit contained a denitrification, an aeration and a membrane tank, whereas the CAS unit included an equalization, a denitrification, a nitrification, a sedimentation, a mixing, a flocculation tank and a drum filter. Several impact categories factors were calculated by implementing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential and photochemical ozone creation potential of the plants throughout their life cycle. Real data from two wastewater treatment plants were used. The research focused on two parameters which constitute the main differences between the two treatment plants: The excess sludge removal life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.50 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 2.67 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without sludge removal—and the wastewater treatment plant life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.002 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 0.14 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without land area contribution. Finally, in all the examined cases the environmental superiority of the MBR process was found.

Removal Efficiency of Environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Pollutants-Phthalate Esters in Northern WWTP

2013 ◽  
Vol 807-809 ◽  
pp. 694-698
Author(s):  
Rong Xin Huang ◽  
Zhen Xing Wang ◽  
Gang Liu ◽  
Qi Jin Luo
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Phthalate Esters ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Wastewater Reclamation ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge

In order to guarantee the reliability and security of reclaiming water, research on the removal efficiency of the environmental endocrine chemicals (EDCs) --the Phthalate Esters (PAEs) in conventional secondary activated sludge and wastewater reclamation and reuse process was undergoing at Harbin wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The wastewater samples were colleted from every unit effluent of WWTP. The results showed that contamination of EDCs were presented in municipal wastewater at Harbin and the concentrations of the four PAEs were 21.01μg/L for Di-n-butyl Phthalate (DBP); 9.63μg/L for Di-n-octyl Phthalate (DnOP); 4.56μg/L for Diethyl Phthalate (DEP); 1.96μg/L for Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP) respectively in the influent. The conventional activated sludge has good removal efficiencies performance on DMP, DEP and DBP. With the increasing of molecular weight and branch chains of PAEs contaminations, the removal rate of the four PAEs in the conventional activated sludge process decreased from 99.82%(DMP)，90.60%(DEP)，90.10%(DBP) to the only 45.13% removal rate for DnOP, which was mostly removed from primary treatment but no from secondary activated sludge process; Coagulation-air flotation plus filtration process was not a feasible way to remove PAEs from reclaiming treatment units.

Feasibility of the membrane bioreactor process for water reclamation

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Adham ◽  
P. Gagliardo ◽  
L. Boulos ◽  
J. Oppenheimer ◽  
R. Trussell
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Cost Evaluation ◽  
Water Reclamation ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
In Series ◽  
Volumetric Loading ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge Process

The feasibility of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process for water reclamation was studied. Process evaluation was based on the following: literature review of MBRs, worldwide survey of MBRs, and preliminary costs estimates. The literature review and the survey have shown that the MBR process offers several benefits over the conventional activated sludge process, including: smaller space and reactor requirements, better effluent water quality, disinfection, increased volumetric loading, and less sludge production. The MBR process can exist in two different configurations, one with the low-pressure membrane modules replacing the clarifier downstream the bioreactor (in series), and the second with the membranes submerged within the bioreactor. Four major companies are currently marketing MBRs while many other companies are also in the process of developing new MBRs. The MBR process operates in a considerably different range of parameters than the conventional activated sludge process. The preliminary cost evaluation has shown that the MBR process is cost competitive with other conventional wastewater treatment processes.

Removal of endocrine disrupter compounds from municipal wastewater by an innovative biological technology

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Balest ◽  
G. Mascolo ◽  
C. Di Iaconi ◽  
A. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Endocrine Disrupter ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge Process

The removal of selected endocrine disrupter compounds (EDCs), namely estrone(E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-tert-octylphenol (4t-OP) from municipal wastewater was investigated using a sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor (SBBGR), a new system for biological treatment based on aerobic granular biomass. This new biological treatment is characterized by high biomass concentration (up to 40 g/L), high sludge retention times (up to 6 months) and low sludge production (i.e., an order of magnitude lower than commonly reported for conventional biological technologies). The investigation was carried out comparing a demonstration SBBGR system with a conventional full-scale activated sludge process. Results showed that the SBBGR performed better than a conventional activated sludge process in removing E1, E2, BPA and 4t-OP. In fact, the average removal percentages of the above mentioned EDCs, obtained during a four month operating period, were 62.2, 68, 91.8, 77.9% and 56.4, 36.3, 71.3, 64.6% for the demonstrative SBBGR system and the conventional activated sludge process of the municipal sewage treatment plant, respectively

scholarly journals Study the Effect of Temperature on the Performance of Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor in Wastewater Treatment

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Alaa K. Mohammed ◽  
Qusay Fathel ◽  
Safaa A. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Chemical Engineering ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Hollow Fiber Membrane ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Engineering Department

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) is one of the modifications to the conventional activated sludge process, since it is the combination of a membrane module and a bioreactor. In the present study, 100 liters lab-scale aerobic MBR was seeded with 1.5 Liter activated sludge and municipal wastewater from AL-Rustumiya municipal wastewater treatment station, two hollow fibers sample (MI,MII) manufactured in the University of Technology/ Chemical Engineering Department, were used as biomembranes. Trans membrane pressure TMP was studied and it was found that the optimum value of TMP was 10 cm Hg vacuum which gave optimum effluent flux 400 ml/hr for MI and 350 ml/hr for MII. The experimental work involves the effect of temperature 25, 35, 45°C on the performance of the MBR fibers sample (MI, MII) and its effect on biomass growth and removal efficiency of the COD, BOD. Both samples show good performance in 25°C.

Comparative study of membrane bioreactor (MBR) and activated sludge processes in the treatment of Moroccan domestic wastewater

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 1129-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kitanou ◽  
M. Tahri ◽  
B. Bachiri ◽  
M. Mahi ◽  
M. Hafsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Ceramic Membrane ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

Abstract The study was based on an external pilot-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) with a ceramic membrane compared to a conventional activated sludge process (ASP) plant. Both systems received their influent from domestic wastewater. The MBR produced an effluent of much better quality than the ASP in terms of total suspended solids (TSS), 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). Other effluent quality parameters also indicated substantial differences between the ASP and the MBR. This study leads to the conclusion that in the case of domestic wastewater, MBR treatment leads to excellent effluent quality. Hence, the replacement of ASP by MBR may be justified on the basis of the improved removal of solids, nutrients, and micropollutants. Furthermore, in terms of reuse the high quality of the treated water allows it to be reused for irrigation.

Operation of different membrane bioreactors: experimental results and physiological state of the micro-organisms

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rosenberger ◽  
R. Witzig ◽  
W. Manz ◽  
U. Szewzyk ◽  
M. Kraume
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Microfiltration Membranes

Lab-scale and pilot-scale activated sludge bioreactors with integrated microfiltration membranes were operated over a period of up to three years. During the entire operation period no excess sludge was removed from the bioreactors apart from sampling, resulting in highly concentrated biomass in the reactors. The dry weight of the sludge ranged from 15 to 23 g MLSS l–1 for a plant fed with municipal wastewater and up to 60 g ll–1 for a lab-scale plant fed with high strength molasses. Stable biomass concentrations were reached at F/M ratios as low as approximately 0.07 kg COD (kg MLSS)–1 d–1. The degradation performance of the analyzed reactors was high and stable. Direct microscopical studies revealed high amounts of free suspended cells and at various times also high numbers of filamentous bacteria. Surprisingly only low numbers of protozoa were observed during most of the time. By use of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) only about 40% to 50% of all bacteria emitted probe conferred fluorescence signals sufficient for detection, compared to around 80% cells detectable in conventional activated sludge. Studies on oxygen consumption rates indicated that the biomass in the bioreactor was substrate limited. These data suggest that substrate is mainly oxidized and not used for growth purposes which offers the possibility to operate membrane bioreactors with significantly reduced secondary sludge production.

Performance evaluation of a UASB - activated sludge system treating municipal wastewater

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (11) ◽  
pp. 323-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. von Sperling ◽  
V. H. Freire ◽  
C. A. de Lemos Chernicharo
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Large City ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Uasb Reactor ◽  
Warm Climate ◽  
Conventional Activated Sludge ◽  
Activated Sludge System ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Sufficient Detail

Recent research has indicated the advantages of combining anaerobic and aerobic processes for the treatment of municipal wastewater, especially for warm-climate countries. Although this configuration is seen as an economical alternative, is has not been investigated in sufficient detail on a worldwide basis. This work presents the results of the monitoring of a pilot-scale plant comprising of an UASB reactor followed by an activated sludge system, treating actual municipal wastewater from a large city in Brazil. The plant was intensively monitored and operated for 261 days, divided into five different phases, working with constant and variable inflows. The plant showed good COD removal, with efficiencies ranging from 69% to 84% for the UASB reactor, from 43% to 56% for the activated sludge system only and from 85% to 93% for the overall system. The final effluent suspended solids concentration was very low, with averages ranging from 13 to 18 mg/l in the typical phases of the research. Based on the very good overall performance of the system, it is believed that it is a better alternative for warm-climate countries than the conventional activated sludge system, especially considering the total low hydraulic detention time (4.0 h UASB; 2.8 h aerobic reactor; 1.1 h final clarifier), the savings in energy consumption, the absence of primary sludge and the possibility of thickening and digesting the aerobic excess sludge in the UASB reactor itself.

Kinetic Model of Sequencing Batch Activated Sludge Process for Municipal Wastewater Treatment

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (4-6) ◽  
pp. 1097-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nakazawa ◽  
K. Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Kinetic Model ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Aeration Time

Mathematical models based on the kinetic aspect of the sequencing batch activated sludge process were developed to explain the characteristics of the process treating municipal wastewater. These models are a steady-state model dealing with the overall relationship between biomass concentrations in a reactor and operational conditions of the process, and a kinetic model dealing with the behaviors of biomass and substrate in a reactor within one cycle time of the process. Applying these mathematical models for the results of pilot-scale experiments for municipal wastewater treatment, reasonable parameters' values were obtained and the effects of operating strategies including the aeration time ratio and the solids retention time became clear for the process performance.

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