Removal performance of heavy metals in MBR systems and their influence in water reuse

Abstract

The removal performance of heavy metals by two experimental full-scale membrane bioreactors (microfiltration and ultrafiltration) and the influence of activated sludge total suspended solid (TSS) concentration were studied under real operational conditions. Influent and effluent Be, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Ba, Sn, Sb, Pb and U concentrations were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. An average contamination rate for most of the analysed heavy metals was observed in raw wastewater, resulting in effluents without limitation for reuse in agricultural destinations according to Spanish law. Removal efficiencies up to 80% were obtained regardless of whether microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes were used, except for As, Mo and Sb. The removal yields of different heavy metals can be strengthened by increasing the activated sludge TSS concentration, mainly at concentrations above 10 g/L.

Sewer Mining as a Distributed Intervention for Water-Energy-Materials in the Circular Economy Suitable for Dense Urban Environments: A Real World Demonstration in the City of Athens

“…The effluent water is a high-quality water that can be used directly in a nearby area, for irrigation needs and for aquifer recharge during the winter, while waste by-products are returned to the mail sewerage system [13]. It is considered a sustainable management of water resources option to integrate into urban environment that suffer lack of water and green spaces [14][15][16]. A smaller pilot SM unit has been installed and set in operation in EYDAP's premises in Metamorphosis area in the context of the Dessin FP7 project since 2015 until now.…”

“…Membrane bioreactors (MBR) are very efficient for removing the pathogens and also other parameters that are included into national and international legislation for wastewater irrigation. These parameters are emerging contaminants, heavy metals and priority substances [14][15][16][17][18][19]. These can simply be adapted to the whole CE system, to provide a completely automated system suited for decentralised wastewater treatment [13][14][15].…”

“…A constant dissolved oxygen concentration of 2-3 mg/L is maintained by supplying air through diffusers (15) to the aeration tank (13). A dissolved oxygen (16) meter is utilised to control the blowers' (17) air flow output using a variable frequency drive.…”

Fate of Environmental Pollutants

“…The removal performance of heavy metals, Be, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Ba, Sn, Sb, Pb and U, by two experimental full-scale membrane bioreactors (microfiltration and ultrafiltration) and the influence of activated sludge TSS concentration were studied by Arevalo et al (2013) under real operational conditions. Removal efficiencies up to 80% were obtained regardless of whether microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes were used, except for As, Mo and Sb.…”

Cost-effectiveness analysis of sewer mining versus centralized wastewater treatment: Case study of the Arga river basin, Spain

“…Membrane bioreactors (MBR) are very efficient for pathogenicity removal and capable of meeting other parameters for irrigation water quality such as heavy metals (Arévalo et al 2013, Norton-Brandão et al 2013 or endocrine disruptor compounds and pharmaceuticals (Le Minh et al 2010). Besides, hybrid membrane bioreactor (HMBR) incorporates fixed bed biofilm (Rodríguez-Hernández et al 2012) providing some operational advantages over conventional MBR (Rodríguez-Hernández et al 2014).…”