title: Impact of hazardous events on the removal of nutrients and trace organic contaminants by an anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactor receiving real wastewater.
abstract: The impacts of four simulated hazardous events, namely, aeration failure, power loss, and chemical shocks (ammonia or bleach) on the performance of an anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) receiving real wastewater were investigated. Hazardous events could alter pH and/or oxidation reduction potential of the mixed liquor and inhibit biomass growth, thus affecting the removal of bulk organics, nutrients and trace organic contaminants (TrOC). Chemical shocks generally exerted greater impact on MBR performance than aeration/power failure events, with ammonia shock exerting the greatest impact. Compared to total organic carbon, nutrient removal was more severely affected. Removal of the hydrophilic TrOCs that are resistant and/or occur at high concentrations in wastewater was notably affected. The MBR effectively reduced estrogenicity and toxicity from wastewater, but chemical shocks could temporarily increase the endocrine activity of the effluent. Depending on the chemical shock-dose and the membrane flux, hazardous events can exacerbate membrane fouling.
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Hop V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. Electronic address: faisal@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Faisal I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Hai
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, QLD 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van de Merwe
authors.affiliation: Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, QLD 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Frederic D L
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Leusch
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: GHD, NSW 2541, Australia.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broeckmann
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Long D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Nghiem
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D005502:Food; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Estrogenicity; Hazardous events; Membrane bioreactor; Nutrient removal; Trace organic contaminant (TrOC)