Exploring the potential of membrane bioreactors to enhance metals removal from wastewater: pilot experiences

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Fatone ◽  
A. L. Eusebi ◽  
P. Battistoni ◽  
P. Pavan
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Hollow Fibre ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Permeate Flux ◽  
Nickel Ions ◽  
Filtration Cycle ◽  
Metals Removal ◽  
Membrane Effect ◽  
Membrane Effects

The potential of membrane bioreactors to enhance the removal of selected metals from low loaded sewages has been explored. A 1400 litre pilot plant, equipped with an industrial submerged module of hollow fibre membranes, has been used in three different configurations: membrane bioreactor, operating in sequencing batch modality, for the treatment of real mixed municipal/industrial wastewater; membrane-assisted biosorption reactor, for the treatment of real leachate from municipal landfills; continuously fed membrane bioreactor, for the treatment of water charged with cadmium and nickel ions. The results show that: (a) in treating wastewaters with low levels of heavy metals (< one milligram per litre concentration), operating high sludge ages is not an effective strategy to significantly enhance the metals removal; (b) Hg and Cd are effectively removed already in conventional systems with gravitational final clarifiers, while Cu, Cr, Ni can rely on a additional performance in membrane bioreactors; (c) the further membrane effect is remarkable for Cu and Cr, while it is less significant for Ni. Basically, similar membrane effects recur in three different experimental applications that let us estimate the potential of membrane system to retain selected metal complexes. The future development of the research will investigate the relations between the membrane effect and the manipulable filtration parameters (i.e., permeate flux, solids content, filtration cycle).

scholarly journals Enhanced Removal of Organic Pollutants and Reactive Dye in Polyethersulfone Submerged Membrane Bioreactor (PES-SMBR) for Textile Wastewater

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 329-341
Author(s):  
Tukaram P. Chavan ◽  
Ganpat B. More ◽  
Sanjaykumar R. Thorat
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Textile Wastewater ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Reactive Dye ◽  
Hollow Fibre ◽  
Flow Mode ◽  
Permeate Flux ◽  
Chemical Cleaning ◽  
Submerged Membrane Bioreactor

The present investigation was carried out to assess the operation of a pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) for the treatment of reactive dye and textile wastewater. The operation of SMBR model was conducted by using a polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fibre membrane with continuous flow mode at different HRTs at 8, 6 and 4 h, for 90 days. During the entire operation, the average permeate flux, TMP, F/M ratio and OLR was found to be 19 (L/m²/h), 2.6 (psi), 0.10 (g BOD/(g MLSS•d) and 0.89 (kg BOD/m³.d), respectively. The variations in the permeate flux, TMP, F/M ratio and OLR have not adversely effects on the operation of the SMBR model. Throughout the entire operation, despite the TP, TDS and conductivity, the high amount of COD (82%), BOD (86%), NO3-N (79%), TSS (98%), turbidity (97%) and colour (79%), removal was achieved. The permeate flux was declined by membrane fouling and it was recovered by chemical cleaning as well as regular backwashing during the entire operation. The results obtained from the study concluded that the hollow fibre ultrafiltration polyethersulfone (PES) membrane shows good performance while treating textile wastewater along with reactive dye solution.

Experimental evaluation of intermittent aeration of a hollow fibre membrane bioreactor

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1217-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Verrecht ◽  
Christopher James ◽  
Eve Germain ◽  
Wenjing Ma ◽  
Simon Judd
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Hollow Fibre ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Intermittent Aeration ◽  
Small Plant ◽  
Membrane Aeration ◽  
Net Flux

Intermittent membrane aeration provides a substantially improved energy efficiency in hollow fibre-based immersed membrane bioreactors (HF iMBRs). The benefits of intermittent aeration have been assessed with respect to sustaining a target flux and/or limiting the fouling rate to a sustainable level based on a small plant using full-scale HF modules. Results show that for the same specific aeration demand per unit of permeate produced (SADp), fouling rates were significantly lower for 10 s filtration, 30 s relaxation (“10:30” intermittent aeration) compared to 10:10 and continuous aeration. At a net flux (Jnet) of 23.3 litres m−2 h−1 (LMH), a SADp of 4.6 was found sufficient to sustain operation, this value being up to 75% and 50% lower compared to continuous and 10:10 aeration respectively. This empirical data was compared with heuristic data from 5 large scale HF iMBR plants, which revealed that 10:30 aeration can sustain a relatively high flux (up to 25.3 LMH) under dry weather conditions in warm climates, with the recorded SADp ranging from 5.3–10.9.

Biological sulfate removal in an acidogenic bioreactor with an ultrafiltration membrane system

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 513-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Mizuno ◽  
H. Takagi ◽  
T. Noike
Keyword(s):  
Sulfate Reduction ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Organic Substrate ◽  
Ultrafiltration Membrane ◽  
Sulfate Concentration ◽  
Sulfate Removal ◽  
Chemostat Reactor

The biological sulfate removal in the acidogenic bioreactor with an ultrafiltration membrane system was investigated at 35°C. Sucrose was used as the sole organic substrate. The sulfate concentration in the substrate ranged from 0 to 600mgS·1−1. The chemostat reactor was operated to compare with the membrane bioreactor. The fouling phenomenon caused by FeS precipitate was observed at higher concentration of sulfate. However, it was possible to continuously operate the membrane bioreactor by cleaning the membrane. The efficiency of sulfate removal by sulfate reduction reached about 100% in the membrane bioreactor, and 55 to 87% of sulfide was removed from the permeate by the membrane filtration. The composition of the metabolite was remarkably changed by the change in sulfate concentration. When the sulfate concentration increased, acetate and 2-proponol significantly increased while n-butyrate and 3-pentanol decreased. The sulfate-reducing bacteria play the role as acetogenic bacteria consuming volatile fatty acids and alcohols as electron donors under sulfate-rich conditions. The results show that the acidogenesis and sulfate reduction simultaneously proceed in the membrane bioreactor.

scholarly journals Continuous transformation of chiral pharmaceuticals in enzymatic membrane bioreactors for advanced wastewater treatment

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1816-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luong N. Nguyen ◽  
Faisal I. Hai ◽  
James A. McDonald ◽  
Stuart J. Khan ◽  
William E. Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Redox Mediator ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Continuous Transformation ◽  
Chiral Inversion ◽  
Enantiomeric Analysis ◽  
Chiral Pharmaceuticals ◽  
Advanced Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Enzymatic Membrane

This study demonstrates continuous enantiomeric inversion and further biotransformation of chiral profens including ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen by an enzymatic membrane bioreactor (EMBR) dosed with laccase. The EMBR showed non-enantioselective transformations, with high and consistent transformation of both (R)- and (S)-ibuprofen (93 ± 6%, n= 10), but lower removals of both enantiomers of naproxen (46 ± 16%, n= 10) and ketoprofen (48 ± 17%, n= 10). Enantiomeric analysis revealed a bidirectional but uneven inversion of the profens, for example 14% inversion of (R)- to (S)- compared to 4% from (S)- to (R)-naproxen. With redox-mediator addition, the enzymatic chiral inversion of both (R)- and (S)-profens remained unchanged, although the overall conversion became enantioselective; except for (S)-naproxen, the addition of redox mediator promoted the degradation of (R)-profens only.

Biological treatment of wastewater from fruit juice production using a membrane bioreactor: parameters limiting membrane performance

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 253-259
Author(s):  
C. Blöcher ◽  
T. Britz ◽  
H.D. Janke ◽  
H. Chmiel
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Fruit Juice ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Permeate Flux ◽  
Produce Water ◽  
Membrane Performance ◽  
Test Operation

The application of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was investigated to treat polluted process water from fruit juice processing. The aim was either direct discharge or further treatment by nanofiltration/low pressure reverse osmosis to produce water of drinking quality. The results of a one-year test operation of the process in industrial scale at a fruit juice production plant are presented. Focus was centred on the influence of activated sludge characteristics on membrane performance. Under the operating conditions in place, neither solids content, particle size distribution nor addition of nutrient significantly affected the permeate flux which was considerably lower than expected (based on municipal wastewater treatment with MBRs). Instead, evidence was obtained that the insufficient permeate flux was most likely due to the high content of extracellular polymeric substances. However, it was impossible to relate in detail the substantial flux variations during the test run to AS characteristics or changes in microbial population.

Kinetic evaluation of nitrification performance in an immobilized cell membrane bioreactor

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2904-2912 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Güven ◽  
E. Ubay Çokgör ◽  
S. Sözen ◽  
D. Orhon
Keyword(s):  
Residence Time ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Model Calibration ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Immobilized Cell ◽  
Chemical Cleaning ◽  
Kinetic Evaluation

Abstract High rate membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems operated at extremely low sludge ages (superfast membrane bioreactors (SFMBRs)) are inefficient to achieve nitrogen removal, due to insufficient retention time for nitrifiers. Moreover, frequent chemical cleaning is required due to high biomass flux. This study aims to satisfy the nitrification in SFMBRs by using sponge as carriers, leading to the extension of the residence time of microorganisms. In order to test the limits of nitrification, bioreactor was run under 52, 5 and 2 days of carrier residence time (CRT), with a hydraulic retention time of 6 h. Different degrees of nitrification were obtained for different CRTs. Sponge immobilized SFMBR operation with short CRT resulted in partial nitrification indicating selective dominancy of ammonia oxidizers. At higher CRT, simultaneous nitrification–denitrification was achieved when accompanying with oxygen limitation. Process kinetics was determined through evaluation of the results by a modeling study. Nitrifier partition in the reactor was also identified by model calibration.

scholarly journals Hybrid System Coupling Moving Bed Bioreactor with UV/O3 Oxidation and Membrane Separation Units for Treatment of Industrial Laundry Wastewater

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2648
Author(s):  
Sylwia Mozia ◽  
Magdalena Janus ◽  
Sławomira Bering ◽  
Krzysztof Tarnowski ◽  
Jacek Mazur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Membrane Separation ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Permeate Flux ◽  
Moving Bed ◽  
System A ◽  
Water Recycle ◽  
Recycle And Reuse ◽  
System Coupling

This paper describes the investigations on the possibilities of treatment of wastewater generated in an industrial laundry with application of a combined biological-photooxidation- membrane system aimed at water recycle and reuse. The two treatment schemes were compared: 1) scheme A consisting of a treatment in a moving bed biological reactor (MBBR) followed by microfiltration (MF) and nanofiltration (NF), and 2) scheme B comprising MBBR followed by oxidation by photolysis enhanced with in situ generated O3 (UV/O3) after which MF and NF were applied. The removal efficiency in MBBR reached 95–97% for the biochemical oxygen demand; 90–93% for the chemical oxygen demand and 89–99% for an anionic and a nonionic surfactants. The application of UV/O3 system allowed to decrease the content of the total organic carbon by 68% after 36 h of operation with a mineralization rate of 0.36 mg/L·h. Due to UV/O3 pretreatment, a significant mitigation of membrane fouling in the case of both MF and NF processes was achieved. The MF permeate flux in the system B was over two times higher compared to that in the system A. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that the laundry wastewater pretreated in the MBBR-UV/O3-MF-NF system could be recycled to any stage of the laundry process.

scholarly journals ON/OFF Switchable Nanocomposite Membranes for Separations

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2415
Author(s):  
Taegyun Kwon ◽  
Jinyoung Chun
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Separation ◽  
Polymer Nanocomposite ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Polymeric Membranes ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Stimuli Responsive ◽  
Permeate Flux ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
The Cost ◽  
External Stimuli

Although water, air, and other resources are abundant on earth, they have been subjected to strict environmental regulations. This is because of their limitation of availability for human consumption. In the separation industry, the membrane system was introduced to increase the amount of resources available to mankind. Experts used an easy-to-use polymeric material to design several membranes with porous structures for wastewater treatment, gas separation, and chemical removal; consequently, they succeeded in obtaining positive results. However, past polymeric membranes exhibited a chronic drawback such that it was difficult to simultaneously augment the permeate flux and improve its selectivity toward certain substances. Because of the trade-off relationship that existed between permeability and selectivity, the membrane efficiency was not very good; consequently, the cost-effectiveness was significantly hindered because there was no other alternative than to replace the membrane in order to maintain its initial characteristics steadily. This review begins with the introduction of a polymer nanocomposite (PNC) membrane that has been designed to solve the chronic problem of polymeric membranes; subsequently, the stimuli-responsive PNC membrane is elucidated, which has established itself as a popular topic among researchers in the separation industry for several decades. Furthermore, we have listed the different types and examples of stimuli-responsive PNC membranes, which can be switched by external stimuli, while discussing the future direction of the membrane separation industry.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Initial Fouling Layer on the Membrane Surface in a Membrane Bioreactor: Effects of Permeation Drag

Membranes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Shengli Wang ◽  
Xin Lu ◽  
Lanhe Zhang ◽  
Jingbo Guo ◽  
Haifeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Zeta Potential ◽  
Electron Donor ◽  
Energy Barrier ◽  
Polyvinylidene Fluoride ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Permeate Flux ◽  
Pvdf Membrane ◽  
Operating Modes

In this study, the properties of the initial fouling layer on the membrane surface of a bioreactor were investigated under different operating modes (with or without permeate flux) to improve the understanding of the effect of permeation drag on the formation of the initial fouling layer. It was found that protein was the major component in the two types of initial fouling layers, and that the permeation drag enhanced the tryptophan protein-like substances. The attraction of the initial foulants to the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was ascribed to the high zeta potential and electron donor component (γ−) of the membrane. Thermodynamic analyses showed that the permeation drag-induced fouling layer possessed high hydrophobicity and low γ−. Due to permeation drag, a portion of the foulants overcame an energy barrier before they contacted the membrane surface, which itself possessed a higher fouling propensity. A declining trend of the cohesive strength among the foulants was found with the increasing development of both fouling layers.

scholarly journals Computational fluid dynamics simulation as a tool for optimizing the hydrodynamic performance of membrane bioreactors

RSC Advances ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (55) ◽  
pp. 32034-32046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Jin ◽  
Cheng-Lin Liu ◽  
Xing-Fu Song ◽  
Jian-Guo Yu
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Hydrodynamic Performance ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Hydrodynamic Properties

The hydrodynamic properties and shear stresses experienced by a membrane bioreactor (MBR) are directly related to its rate of membrane fouling.

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