Biological Phosphorus Removal Using a Biofilm Membrane Reactor: Operation at High Organic Loading Rates

Abstract

This research describes Biological Phosphorus Removal at Organic Loading Rates from 5 to 30 g COD/m2·d using a laboratory scale Sequencing Batch Biofilm Membrane Reactor. The reactor was fed with synthetic wastewater based on sodium acetate with a COD:N:P ratio of 20:5:1. An average PO4-P removal of 72% was observed when the organic load was kept under 15 gCOD/m2·d. Maximum PO4-P removal of 85% was associated with a consumption rate of 700 mgPO4-P/m2·d. Increasing with the organic load, the PO4-P released during the anaerobic phase averages 40% over the influent concentration, showing a maximum value of 107%. Throughout the experiments, overall COD removal rates were above 90%, and the COD uptake during the anaerobic phase ranged between 60 and 80% for organic loading rates under 15 gCOD/m2·d. Simultaneous nitrification and dentrification took place during the transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions at the beginning of every cycle. Average transformation rates between 0.6 to 2.0 gNH4-N/m2·d and 0.3 to 1.2 gNO3-N/m2·d were observed for organic loading rates under 15 gCOD/m2·d, corresponding to average NH4-N removal rates between 50 and 70%. Average effluent NO3-N ranged between 1.5 and 10.6 mg/l. Phosphorus contents of the biofilm based on dry mass ranged between 4.2 and 5.2%.

Enhanced biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal using sequencing batch membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

“…And in SBMABR, the TP removal efficiency is improved with the increase of COD/TP and finally stabilizes around 85%, which is much higher than that in CMABR. Comparing with the previous reports about phosphorus removal by biofilm system, the removal efficiency of this study is on the same level even better than others (Wu et al, 2009;Terada et al, 2006;Castillo et al, 1999).…”

Membrane-Aerated Biofilms for High Rate Biotreatment: Performance Appraisal, Engineering Principles, Scale-up, and Development Requirements

“…A techno-economic model would form an important input into scale-up design strategies. Improvements in MABR performance may also be gained by further exploration of non-continuous operation, such as sequencing batch MABRs 41,[73][74][75] , or by novel hybrid designs that combine the MABR with other technologies [38][39][40][41][42] . There is also a continuing need for basic research into fundamental mechanisms governing MABR performance.…”

Influence of the wastewater composition on denitrification and biological p-removal in the S-DN-P-process

“…nitrate, is used mainly for other purposes, i.e. growth [16]. While comparing the level of p-uptake with that of NO 3 -N-consumption in the DN-phase, it was noted that the complete reduction of nitrate to molecular nitrogen could not occur with partial formation of nitrite.…”