title: Sequential batch membrane bio-reactor for wastewater treatment: The effect of increased salinity.
abstract: In this work, a sequential batch membrane bioreactor pilot plant is investigated to analyze the effect of a gradual increase in salinity on carbon and nutrient removal, membrane fouling and biomass kinetic parameters. The salinity was increased by 2gNaClL(-1) per week up to 10gNaClL(-1). The total COD removal efficiency was quite high (93%) throughout the experiment. A gradual biomass acclimation to the salinity level was observed during the experiment, highlighting the good recovery capabilities of the system. Nitrification was also influenced by the increase in salinity, with a slight decrease in nitrification efficiency (the lowest value was obtained at 10gNaClL(-1) due to lower nitrifier activity). Irreversible cake deposition was the predominant fouling mechanism observed during the experiment. Respirometric tests exhibited a stress effect due to salinity, with a reduction in the respiration rates observed (from 8.85mgO2L(-1)h(-1) to 4mgO2L(-1)h(-1)).
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mannina
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: marco.capodici@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capodici
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cosenza
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Trapani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viviani
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D058465:Nitrification; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054712:Salinity; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Extracellular polymeric substances; Membrane fouling; Organic carbon and nitrogen removal; Respirometric batch tests; Salinity