Low dose powdered activated carbon addition at high sludge retention times to reduce fouling in membrane bioreactors.
The addition of a low concentration of PAC (0.5gL(-1) of sludge, i.e. a dose of 4mgL(-1) of wastewater), in combination with a relatively long SRT (50 days), to improve membrane filtration performance was investigated in two pilot-scale MBRs treating real municipal wastewater. Continuous filterability tests at high flux showed the possibility to run for 18h at 72Lm(-2)h(-1) and 180h at 50Lm(-2)h(-1), while significant fouling occurred without PAC. In addition, measurements of the critical flux showed an increase of 10% for this strategy. Low dosage and high retention time makes it feasible and cost effective. Further advantages with regard to permeate quality and possible micropollutants removal are currently under investigation.
Remy
Maxime
M
TTI Wetsus, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. maxime.remy@wetsus.nl <maxime.remy@wetsus.nl>
van der Marel
Perry
P
Zwijnenburg
Arie
A
Rulkens
Wim
W
Temmink
Hardy
H
D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002244:Carbon