title: Treatment of high strength pharmaceutical wastewaters in a Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor (TAMR).
abstract: In the present work we studied the thermophilic biological treatability of high strength liquid wastes from a pharmaceutical industry (rich in organic matter - COD: Chemical Oxygen Demand, nutrients and salinity). Different mixtures (with concentrations of COD, phosphorus and chloride up to 57,000 mg L(-1), 2000 mg L(-1) and 9000 mg L(-1), respectively) were tested. The pilot plant used in this work was designed and built with dimensions comparable to a semi-industrial unit. The results are therefore representative for full-scale applications. During four months of experimentation, the pilot plant (TAMR - Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor) was operated at 49 ± 1 °C and the organic loading rate was 1.5-5.5 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) with a hydraulic retention time of 5-10 days. Main results are the following: a) extremely high COD removal rate (up to 98%); b) very low sludge production (∼0.016 kgVSS produced kgCOD removed(-1)); c) suitability as a pre-treatment to a conventional (e.g. activated sludge) biological treatment (the studied pharmaceutical industrial wastewaters are discharged into the sewer system for final polishing in a centralized municipal wastewater treatment plant) and d) high phosphorus removal (up to 99%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Collivignarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: abba78@unipv.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbà
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering, and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertanza
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Salinity; Sludge minimization; Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor (TAMR); Ultrafiltration