title: Removal of tetrabromobisphenol A by conventional activated sludge, submerged membrane and membrane aerated biofilm reactors.
abstract: The goal of this study was to compare removal efficiencies of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) using typical wastewater treatment technologies, and to identify the most significant mechanisms of removal. Two types of municipal wastewater reactors were studied: a full-scale conventional activated sludge (CAS) reactor with tertiary treatment; and three pilot-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs) having different sludge retention times (SRTs). All four reactors were fed the same influent. A third reactor type, a membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) was fed tap water, ammonia, and TBBPA. TBBPA in municipal influent ranged from 1 to 41 ng L(-1) (n=10). The CAS effluent had an average TBBPA concentration of 0.7 ± 1.3 ng L(-1) (n=3). Effluent concentrations from the MBRs were an average of 6 ± 6 ng L(-1) TBBPA (n=26). Significant TBBPA removal was observed in the MABR throughout the 5 week of study (p≥0.05). Removal of TBBPA from wastewater treatment was found to be due to a combination of adsorption and biological degradation. Based on experimental results, nitrification is likely a key process therein. No significant relationship between removal of TBBPA and SRT was identified (p≥0.05).
authors.affiliation: University of Guelph, School of Engineering, Guelph Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1. chris.potvin@snclavalin.com
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Potvin
authors.forename: Zebo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Hongde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C020806:tetrabromobisphenol A