Start-up period investigation of pilot-scale submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) treating raw municipal wastewater

Chemosphere. 2014 Feb:97:71-7. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.11.009. Epub 2013 Nov 28.

Abstract

Submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) is a new hybrid technology for wastewater treatment employing electrical field and microfiltration in a nutrient-removing activated sludge process. A pilot SMEBR system was located at the wastewater treatment plant in the City of l'Assomption (Quebec, Canada) with the objective of investigating the start-up period performance under variable organic loadings and environmental conditions with respect to effluent quality, membrane fouling, and sludge properties. The pilot SMEBR facility was fed with the raw de-gritted municipal wastewater. At steady state operation, the removal efficiencies of ammonia (as NH3(+)-N), phosphorus (as PO4(3-)-P), and COD were 99%, 99%, and 92%, respectively. No substantial increase in the monitored transmembrane pressure as 0.02kPad(-1) was reported. The time necessary to filter 100mL of the sludge sample has decreased by 78% after treatment whilst the sludge volume index averaged 119mLg(-1). Energy requirements were in the range of 1.1-1.6kWhm(-3) of wastewater. It was concluded that the SMEBR is a very competitive technology when compared to conventional membrane systems as it can enhance treatment performance to an appreciable extent, remove phosphorus and reduce fouling.

Keywords: Electrokinetics; Energy consumption; Membrane fouling; Nutrient removal; Submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR); Wastewater.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / analysis
  • Bioreactors*
  • Cities
  • Electricity
  • Filtration / instrumentation
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Pilot Projects
  • Quebec
  • Sewage
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / instrumentation*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Wastewater / chemistry*

Substances

  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Sewage
  • Waste Water
  • Phosphorus
  • Ammonia