title: Inorganic fouling of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating leachate from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and a polishing aerobic membrane bioreactor.
abstract: The treatment of leachate (Average TCOD=11.97 g/L, 14.4% soluble) from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste was investigated using a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane BioReactor (SAMBR), followed by an aerobic membrane bioreactor (AMBR) to polish this effluent. This paper investigated the exact nature and composition of the inorganic precipitate in each of the reactors in the process. The flux decreased due to precipitation of calcium as monohydrocalcite (CaCO3·H2O) containing traces of metals onto the SAMBR membrane because of high CO2 partial pressures. Precipitation of calcium in the AMBR was also observed due to a higher pH. In this case, phosphorus also precipitated with calcium in two different phases: the background layer contained calcium, oxygen, carbon and small amounts of phosphorus (2-6.7%), while flakes containing calcium, oxygen and higher amounts of phosphorus (10-17%) were probably hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College of Science and Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BY, UK. Electronic address: antoinetrzcinski@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Antoine P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Trzcinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College of Science and Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BY, UK.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Stuckey
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon; D008670:Metals; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen; D010758:Phosphorus; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D062611:Solid Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Aerobic membrane bioreactor; Anaerobic digestion; Inorganic fouling; Landfill leachate; Submerged Anaerobic Membrane BioReactor (SAMBR)