title: Long-term operation of a pilot scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for the treatment of municipal wastewater under psychrophilic conditions.
abstract: The performance of a pilot scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR), comprising an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor coupled to an external ultrafiltration membrane treating municipal wastewater at 18±2°C, was evaluated over three years of stable operation. The reactor was inoculated with a mesophilic inoculum without acclimation. The AnMBR supported a tCOD removal efficiency of 87±1% at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 7h, operating at a volumetric loading rate (VLR) of between 2 and 2.5kgtCOD/m(3)d, reaching effluent tCOD concentrations of 100-120mg/L and BOD5 concentrations of 35-50mgO2/L. Specific methane yield varied from 0.18 to 0.23Nm(3)CH4/kgCODremoved depending on the recirculation between the membrane module and the UASB reactor. The permeate flow rate, using cycles of 15s backwash, 7.5min filtration, and continuous biogas sparging (40-60m/h), ranged from 10 to 14Lm(2)/h with trans-membrane pressure (TMP) values of 400-550mbar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: jgouveia@iq.uva.es.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.affiliation: CADAGUA. Gran via 45, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Plaza
authors.affiliation: CADAGUA. Gran via 45, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: ggl@cadagua.es.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garralon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: ffp@iq.uva.es.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fdz-Polanco
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: pena@iq.uva.es.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peña
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008697:Methane; D009584:Nitrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Biomass retention; Municipal wastewater; Psychrophilic temperature; Specific methane yield