Comparison of sulfonated and other micropollutants removal in membrane bioreactor and conventional wastewater treatment.
Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were compared with conventional activated sludge systems (CAS) for micropollutant degradation, in laboratory-scale spiking experiments with synthetic and real domestic wastewater. The target micropollutants were polar in nature and represented a broad range in biodegradability. The experimental data indicated that MBR treatment could significantly enhance removal of the micropollutants 1,6- and 2,7-naphthalene disulfonate (NDSA) and benzothiazole-2-sulfonate. 1,5-NDSA, EDTA and diclofenac were not removed in either the MBR or the CAS. The other compounds were equally well degraded in both systems. For 1,3-naphthalene disulfonate, the existence of a minimum threshold level for degradation could be demonstrated. Although MBRs could not always make a difference in the overall removal efficiencies achieved, they showed reduced lag phases for degradation and a stronger memory effect, which implies that they may respond quicker to variable influent concentrations. Finally, micropollutant removal also turned out to be less sensitive to system operational variables.
De Wever
Heleen
H
Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium. heleen.dewever@vito.be
Weiss
Stefan
S
Reemtsma
Thorsten
T
Vereecken
Johan
J
Müller
Jutta
J
Knepper
Thomas
T
Rörden
Ocke
O
Gonzalez
Susana
S
Barcelo
Damia
D
Dolores Hernando
Maria
M
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009282:Naphthalenesulfonates / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009282:Naphthalenesulfonates; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004008:Diclofenac; C056937:naphthalene-1,6-disulfonic acid