Effect of low dosages of powdered activated carbon on membrane bioreactor performance

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 954-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Remy ◽  
Hardy Temmink ◽  
Wim Rulkens
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Powdered Activated Carbon ◽  
Filtration Time ◽  
Sludge Flocs ◽  
Operational Costs ◽  
Long Term Effect

Previous research has demonstrated that powdered activated carbon (PAC), when applied at very low dosages and long SRTs, reduces membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). This effect was related to the formation of stronger sludge flocs, which are less sensitive to shear. In this contribution the long-term effect of PAC addition was studied by running two parallel MBRs on sewage. To one of these, PAC was dosed and a lower fouling tendency of the sludge was verified, with a 70% longer sustainable filtration time. Low PAC dosages showed additional advantages with regard to oxygen transfer and dewaterability, which may provide savings on operational costs.

Use of submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR) containing powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the treatment of textile effluents

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 1540-1547 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. L. Baêta ◽  
R. L. Ramos ◽  
D. R. S. Lima ◽  
S. F. Aquino
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Textile Wastewater ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Powdered Activated Carbon ◽  
Excellent Performance ◽  
Reactor Stability ◽  
Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors

This work investigated the use of submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs) in the presence and absence of powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the treatment of genuine textile wastewater. The reactors were operated at 35 °C with an HRT of 24 h and the textile effluent was diluted (1:10) with nutrient solution containing yeast extract as the source of the redox mediation riboflavin. The results showed that although both SAMBRs exhibited an excellent performance, the presence of PAC inside SAMBR-1 enhanced reactor stability and removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile fatty acids (VFA), turbidity and color. The median removal efficiencies of COD and color in SAMBR-1 were, 90 and 94% respectively; whereas for SAMBR-2 (without PAC) these values were 79 and 86%, In addition, the median values of turbidity and VFA were 8 NTU and 8 mg/L for SAMBR-1 and 14 NTU and 26 mg/L for SAMBR-2, indicating that the presence of PAC inside SAMBR-1 led to the production of an anaerobic effluent of high quality regarding such parameters.

Application of powdered activated carbon (PAC) for membrane fouling control in a pilot-scale MBR system

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 2350-2357 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. I. Zouboulis ◽  
P. K. Gkotsis ◽  
D. X. Zamboulis ◽  
M. G. Mitrakas
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Powdered Activated Carbon ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
Fouling Control ◽  
Integrated Methodology ◽  
Microbial Products

Membrane fouling is considered to be the most serious drawback in wastewater treatment when using membrane bioreactors (MBRs), leading to membrane permeability decrease and efficiency deterioration. This work aims to develop an integrated methodology for membrane fouling control, using powdered activated carbon (PAC), which will enhance the adsorption of soluble microbial products (SMP) and improve membrane filterability, by altering the mixed liquor's characteristics. Reversible fouling was assessed in terms of sludge filterability measurements, according to the standard time-to-filter (TTF) method, while irreversible fouling was assessed in terms of SMP removal. Results showed that the addition of PAC at the concentration of 3 g/L in the mixed liquor reduced SMP concentration and enhanced substantially the sludge filterability. Furthermore, the TTFPAC/TTFno PAC ratios were lower, than the corresponding SMPPAC./SMPno PAC ratios, indicating that the batch-mode, short-term addition of PAC promotes the reversible, rather than the irreversible fouling mitigation.

Improving the performance of membrane bioreactors by powdered activated carbon dosing with cost considerations

2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Yang ◽  
M. Paetkau ◽  
N. Cicek
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Powdered Activated Carbon ◽  
Membrane Cleaning ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
The Cost

Effects of powdered activated carbon (PAC) dosing on the overall performance of membrane bioreactors (MBR) were investigated in two bench-scale submerged MBRs. Positive impacts of PAC dosing on membrane fouling and the removal of 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethyinylestradiol (EE2) were demonstrated over a six-month stable operational period. PAC dosing in the MBR increased the removal rates of E2 and EE2 by 3.4% and 15.8%, respectively. The average soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and colloidal total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations in the PAC-MBR sludge was 60.1% and 61.8% lower than the control MBR sludge, respectively. Lower soluble EPS and colloidal TOC concentrations in the PAC-MBR sludge resulted in a slower rate of trans-membrane pressure (TMP) increase during MBRs operation, which could prolong the lifespan of membranes. Cost assessment showed that PAC dosing could reduce the operating cost for membrane cleaning and/or membrane replacement by about 25%. The operating cost for PAC dosing could be offset by the benefit from its reducing the cost for membrane maintenance.

Effects of powdered activated carbon dosing on sludge characteristics and estrogen removal in membrane bioreactors

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 2193-2198 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Yang ◽  
M. Paetkau ◽  
N. Cicek
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Powdered Activated Carbon ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Sludge Characteristics ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
The Mean

Sludge characteristics associated with filterability as well as the removal of a natural estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2) and a synthetic estrogen 17α-ethyinylestradiol (EE2) were investigated in submerged membrane bioreactors (MBR) with and without the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) under the same experimental conditions. Positive impacts of PAC dosing on membrane fouling and the removal of E2 and EE2 were demonstrated over a six months stable operational period. Experimental results showed that PAC dosing resulted in lower concentrations of soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and colloidal total organic carbon (TOC) in the PAC-MBR sludge. The average soluble EPS and colloidal TOC concentrations in the PAC-MBR sludge was 60.1% and 61.8% lower than the control MBR sludge, respectively. Regardless of PAC dosing, concentrations of colloidal TOC were strongly related to concentrations of soluble EPS and soluble carbohydrates in the sludge. In addition, the mean flocs size of the sludge with PAC dosing was shifted from 49.4 μm to 60.3 μm. PAC dosing in the MBR increased the removal rates of E2 and EE2 by 3.4% and 15.8%, respectively.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document