title: Evaluation of herbicide (persistent pollutant) removal mechanisms through hybrid membrane bioreactors.
abstract: A laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) combined with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption was researched for over seven months to evaluate the removal efficiencies and mechanisms of a moderately persistent s-triazine herbicide (Ametryn), which is commonly used in Australian sugarcane farmlands. Long-term experiments showed that MBR alone (15h hydraulic retention time (HRT)) can remove 65% of Ametryn from its influent which had a concentration of 1-2mg/L. A batch study was carried out to assess the mechanisms of removal of Ametryn through MBR and found that 0.1186mg of Ametryn/g-VSS is adsorbed onto sludge particles when 1mg/L of Ametryn is added to the mixed liquor and showed a 64% removal after 12h. This experiment confirmed that 99%, 92% and 83% removal of Ametryn could be achieved only from biodegradation, if the MBR maintains a HRT of 7.5, 2.5 and 1.5days respectively.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Footscray Park Campus, Ballarat Road, Footscray, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia. Electronic address: dimuth.navaratna@vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Dimuth
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Navaratna
authors.affiliation: School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Veeriah
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jegatheesan
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001315:Australia; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019149:Bioreactors; D002606:Charcoal; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014227:Triazines / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006540:Herbicides; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012722:Sewage; D014227:Triazines; D002606:Charcoal; C100057:ametryne; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Adsorption; Ametryn; Biodegradation; Membrane bioreactor (MBR); Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)