Effect of disintegrated sludge recycling on membrane permeability in a membrane bioreactor combined with a turbulent jet flow ozone contactor

We have combined a turbulent jet flow ozone contactor (TJC) with a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to establish a zero-discharge system in terms of excess sludge in the MBR. The TJC-MBR system was compared with the conventional MBR (Control-MBR) with respect to i) the size and zeta potential of the sludge particles, ii) the loosely bound extra-cellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and tightly bound EPS of the microbial flocs, iii) the porosity and biovolume of the bio-cake accumulated on the membrane, and iv) the membrane permeability. The TJC system generated the ozonated sludge with a negligible amount of loosely bound EPS and a positive zeta potential. As a result, when such ozonated sludge was recycled, the average size of the sludge particles (e.g., microbial flocs) increased in the TJC-MBR. Consequently the bio-cake formed in the TJC-MBR had greater porosity than that in the Control-MBR, giving rise to higher membrane permeability in the TJC-MBR.     

Activated sludge model (ASM) based modelling of membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes: A critical review with special regard to MBR specificities

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been increasingly employed for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment in the last decade. The efforts for modelling of such wastewater treatment systems have always targeted either the biological processes (treatment quality target) as well as the various aspects of engineering (cost effective design and operation). The development of Activated Sludge Models (ASM) was an important evolution in the modelling of Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) processes and their use is now very well established. However, although they were initially developed to describe CAS processes, they have simply been transferred and applied to MBR processes. Recent studies on MBR biological processes have reported several crucial specificities: medium to very high sludge retention times, high mixed liquor concentration, accumulation of soluble microbial products (SMP) rejected by the membrane filtration step, and high aeration rates for scouring purposes. These aspects raise the question as to what extent the ASM framework is applicable to MBR processes. Several studies highlighting some of the aforementioned issues are scattered through the literature. Hence, through a concise and structured overview of the past developments and current state-of-the-art in biological modelling of MBR, this review explores ASM-based modelling applied to MBR processes. The work aims to synthesize previous studies and differentiates between unmodified and modified applications of ASM to MBR. Particular emphasis is placed on influent fractionation, biokinetics, and soluble microbial products (SMPs)/exo-polymeric substances (EPS) modelling, and suggestions are put forward as to good modelling practice with regard to MBR modelling both for end-users and academia. A last section highlights shortcomings and future needs for improved biological modelling of MBR processes.     

Optimising mixing and nutrient removal in membrane bioreactors: CFD modelling and experimental validation

Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) have been used successfully in biological wastewater treatment to solve the perennial problem of effective solids-liquid separation. The optimisation of MBRs requires knowledge of the membrane fouling, mixing and biokinetics. MBRs are designed mainly based on the biokinetic and membrane fouling considerations even though the hydrodynamics within an MBR system is of critical importance to the performance of the system. Current methods of design for a desired flow regime within the MBR are largely based on empirical techniques (e.g. specific mixing energy). However, it is difficult to predict how vessel design in large scale installations (e.g. size and position of inlets, baffles or membrane orientation) affects hydrodynamics, hence overall performance. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provides a method for prediction of how vessel features and mixing energy usage affect the hydrodynamics and pollutant removal and subsequently allowing optimisation of MBR design and performance. In this study, a CFD model was developed which accounts for aeration and biological nutrient removal. The modelling results are compared against experimental results of two full scale MBRs for the hydrodynamics and against a modelling benchmark for the biological nutrient removal component of the model.     

Greywater recycling in Vietnam — Application of the HUBER MBR process

Greywater is the part of domestic wastewater that is free of faeces. The volume and concentration of this separately collected wastewater flow depend on the consumer behaviour and vary according to its source. The average amount of greywater produced per day in a German household is 70 l per person, which is more than 50% of the total wastewater production [5]. This figure corresponds with the average figures provided for Chinese households (80 l per person/day, GB/T 50331-2002), but significantly exceeds the South African average of 20 l per person and day [1].Compared to domestic wastewater, greywater generally contains less organic pollutants, less nutrients but a high amount of tensides. The effluent from bath tubs, showers or wash hand basins contains for example a by approx. two decimal orders lower number of total and faecal coliform bacteria (Escherichiacoli) [2] and [6].Due to its relatively low content of pollutants, greywater is easy to treat with MBRs. The pollutants contained are decomposed by the bacteria of the activated sludge tank. The following membrane filtration unit separates the treated greywater from the activated sludge. The treated greywater is of high quality and hygienically safe so that it can be reused, alone or combined with rain water, for toilet flushing water, laundry washing or for irrigation purposes.Within the scope of the SANSED II research project HUBER has been successful in adapting the MBR system for greywater treatment to the specific conditions in Vietnam and testing the system in operation in a small city in the Mekong delta, South Vietnam. The wastewater from kitchen sinks and the bathrooms of a dormitory on the campus of Can Tho University was clarified in the HUBER GreyUse^® plant over a period of three months. The project aim was the production of high quality service water from greywater for safe reuse as toilet flush water.     

Application of MBR for hospital wastewater treatment in China

In China, the number of hospitals has increased to 19,712 in 2008, with the production of hospital wastewater reaching 1.29 × 10⁶ m³/d. Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology presents a more efficient system at removing pathological microorganism compared with existing wastewater treatment systems. In the past 8 yr, over 50 MBR plants have been successfully built for hospital wastewater treatments, with the capacity ranging from 20 to 2000 m³/d. MBR can effectively save disinfectant consumption (chlorine addition can decrease to 1.0 mg/L), shorten the reaction time (approximately 1.5 min, 2.5-5% of conventional wastewater treatment process), and attain a good effect of inactivation of microorganism. Higher disinfection efficacy is achieved in MBR effluents at lower dose of disinfectant with less disinfection by-products (DBPs). Moreover, when capacity of MBR plants increases from 20 to 1000 m³/d, their operating cost decreases sharply.     

MBR组合工艺脱氮除磷研究进展

常规MBR工艺处理城市生活污水尽管可以获得较低SS的出水,但对氮、磷的去除却很难达到愈来愈严格的排放要求,因此强化MBR工艺生物段的脱氮除磷功能成为目前研究的热点问题。分析了MBR脱氮除磷的潜力,介绍了各种MBR组合工艺脱氮除磷的原理、特点及处理效果,探讨了MBR组合工艺脱氮除磷的研究方向,认为微生物学机理、强化内源反硝化及膜污染控制等是其研究重点。     

臭氧预氧化/MBR工艺处理微污染原水的研究

采用臭氧预氧化/膜生物反应器(O3/MBR)工艺处理微污染地表水,通过30 d的稳定运行考察了系统的除污效能,并通过观察膜表面的微观形态对膜污染的机理进行了初步探讨。初始阶段向MBR中一次性投加2 g/L的粉末活性炭(PAC)作为生物载体,并控制水力停留时间(HRT)为0.5 h、臭氧投量为1.5 mg/L。结果表明,O3/MBR系统由于超滤膜的截留作用对颗粒物的去除非常有效,对浊度的平均去除率达到99.3%;对CODMn、DOC、UV254也有一定的去除效果,平均去除率分别为32.6%、18.7%和30.1%。尽管臭氧氧化使水中的AOC浓度有所增加,但经MBR工艺处理后,整个系统对AOC的去除率为13.4%,生物稳定性得到了提高。运行结束后的扫描电镜观察显示,超滤膜的膜孔被污泥层覆盖;通过原子力显微镜观察发现污泥层的表面粗糙不平,这两者均表明污泥层造成了膜污染。尽管该污泥层导致了跨膜压差的增加,但同时也起到了预过滤作用。     

天津港油污水处理改造工程工艺的最优化配置

论述了天津港油污水处理改造的必要性,原有污水系统概况,试验情况,根据工程最优化设置选择工艺方案,提出一套能够适应现有含油废水排放特征的工艺流程和综合处理方法,旨在提高出水水质。     

MBR在生活污水处理与回用中的应用

阐述了膜生物反应器（MBR）的分类及原理,总结出膜生物反应器较传统的活性污泥系统所具有的特点,重点介绍了膜生物反应器在生活污水处理领域的应用,从而达到较高的去除效果。     

地下式MBR工艺在广州京溪污水处理厂的应用

广州京溪污水处理厂工程设计规模10万m3/d,污水处理采用MBR工艺。污水处理厂土建布置采用地下式组团布置形式,主要处理构筑物设于地下,地上用作绿化景观。介绍了污水处理厂的工艺流程、主要构筑物设计情况,并对主要设计特点和新技术的应用进行分析。