title: A venturi device reduces membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor.
abstract: In this study, for the first time, a venturi device was integrated into a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) to improve membrane surface cleaning and bioreactor oxygenation. The performances of a blower and the venturi device were compared in terms of membrane fouling and bioreactor oxygenation. Upon comparing membrane fouling, the performances were similar for a low operation flux (18 L/m(2).h); however, at a medium flux (32 L/m(2).h), the venturi system operated 3.4 times longer than the blower system, and the final transmembrane pressure was one-third that of the blower system. At the highest flux studied (50 L/m(2).h), the venturi system operated 5.4 times longer than the blower system. The most notable advantage of using a venturi device was that the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of the MBR was in the range of 7 to 8 mg/L at a 3 L/min aeration rate, while the DO concentration of the MBR was inadequate (a maximum of 0.29 mg/L) in the blower system. A clean water oxygenation test at a 3 L/min aeration rate indicated that the standard oxygen transfer rate for the venturi system was 9.5 times higher than that of the blower system.
authors.affiliation: Engineering Faculty, Civil Engineering Department, Division of Hydraulics, Dicle University, Diyarbakir 21280, Turkey E-mail: kayaalpn@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kayaalp
authors.affiliation: Engineering Faculty, Civil Engineering Department, Division of Hydraulics, Dicle University, Diyarbakir 21280, Turkey E-mail: kayaalpn@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gokmen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozturkmen
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater