title: Comparison between moving bed-membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems: influence of wastewater salinity variation.
abstract: Two pilot plant systems were investigated for the treatment of wastewater subject to a gradual increase of salinity. In particular, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a moving bed biofilm membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) were analyzed. Carbon and ammonium removal, kinetic constants and membranes fouling rates have been assessed. Both plants showed very high efficiency in terms of carbon and ammonium removal and the gradual salinity increase led to a good acclimation of the biomass, as confirmed by the respirometric tests. Significant biofilm detachments from carriers were experienced, which contributed to increase the irreversible superficial cake deposition. However, this aspect prevented the pore fouling tendency in the membrane module of MB-MBR system. On the contrary, the MBR pilot, even showing a lower irreversible cake deposition, was characterized by a higher pore fouling tendency.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: daniele.ditrapani@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Trapani
authors.affiliation: Facoltà di Ingegneria e Architettura, Università di Enna "Kore", Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mannina
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torregrossa
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viviani
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D057219:Biofouling; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D018533:Biomass; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000032:analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D005374:Filtration; D007700:Kinetics; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054712:Salinity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D001704:Biopolymers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: MB-MBR; Membrane fouling; Respirometry; Saline wastewater