title: A novel membrane distillation-thermophilic bioreactor system: biological stability and trace organic compound removal.
abstract: The removal of trace organic compounds (TrOCs) by a novel membrane distillation-thermophilic bioreactor (MDBR) system was examined. Salinity build-up and the thermophilic conditions to some extent adversely impacted the performance of the bioreactor, particularly the removal of total nitrogen and recalcitrant TrOCs. While most TrOCs were well removed by the thermophilic bioreactor, compounds containing electron withdrawing functional groups in their molecular structure were recalcitrant to biological treatment and their removal efficiency by the thermophilic bioreactor was low (0-53%). However, the overall performance of the novel MDBR system with respect to the removal of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and TrOCs was high and was not significantly affected by the conditions of the bioreactor. All TrOCs investigated here were highly removed (>95%) by the MDBR system. Biodegradation, sludge adsorption, and rejection by MD contribute to the removal of TrOCs by MDBR treatment.
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Kaushalya C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wijekoon
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Faisal I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Hai
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Jinguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technologies in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Wenshan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technologies in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Hao H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.affiliation: Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors.forename: Tzahi Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Cath
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Electronic address: longn@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Long D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Nghiem
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D057168:Distillation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Adsorption; Biodegradation/transformation; Membrane distillation; Salinity build-up; Trace organic compounds (TrOCs)