Exploring the carbon and nitrogen removal capacity of a membrane aerated biofilm reactor for low-strength municipal wastewater treatment

Abstract

As one stage process capable of simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal, membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) has advantages of low energy consumption from bubble-free aeration and no extra carbon dosage...

Low strength and COD/N wastewater treatment via controlled nitrification by a membrane aerated biofilm, partial denitrification by activated sludge, and anaerobic ammonia oxidation by granular sludge

“…2a, NH 4 + –N concentration showed an approximately linear decrease with reaction time, thus following pseudo-zero-order reaction kinetics, similar to what a previous study reported. 15 The pseudo-zero-order reaction rate constants for NH 4 + –N removal were 5.07, 7.26, 8.10, and 8.19 mg L −1 h −1 under aeration pressure of 4, 6, 8, and 10 kPa, respectively, indicating that oxygen supply was the limiting factor for AOB under the tested conditions in this study. NH 4 + –N removal after a reaction time of 9 h was up to 45%, 58%, 72%, and 80% under aeration pressure of 4, 6, 8, and 10 kPa, respectively.…”

“…2a, NH 4 + -N concentration showed an approximately linear decrease with reaction time, thus following pseudo-zero-order reaction kinetics, similar to what a previous study reported. 15 The pseudo-zero-order reaction rate constants for NH conversion mechanism in MAB. There was a marginal COD removal of less than 5% after a reaction time of 9 h under all aeration pressures, indicating a highly sophisticated nitrifying biofilm.…”

“…13 Benefiting from aeration flexibility via adjusting pressure or flowrate, MAB can achieve nitrification only or simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. [14][15][16] High dissolved oxygen concentrations facilitate NOB growth in MAB, thus limiting stable nitritation. Recent studies on the pilot and full scale application of MAB for municipal wastewater treatment, [16][17][18] where aeration membrane modules were directly submerged into the anoxic tank of the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic activated sludge process, demonstrated that MAB could achieve full nitrification with an oxygen utilization efficiency of more than 80% and denitrifying bacteria in activated sludge could achieve full denitrification at the same time, thus eliminating internal reflux for denitrification.…”