Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification using baffled osmotic membrane bioreactor-microfiltration hybrid system at different oxic-anoxic conditions for wastewater treatment

Abstract

The efficacy of a baffled osmotic membrane bioreactor-microfiltration (OMBR-MF) hybrid system equipped with thin film forward osmosis membrane for wastewater treatment was evaluated at laboratory scale. The novel OMBR-MF hybrid system involved baffles, that separate oxic and anoxic zones in the aerobic reactor for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND), and a bioreactor comprised of thin film composite-forward osmosis (TFC-FO) and polyether sulfone-microfiltration (PES-MF) membranes. The evaluation was conducted under four different oxic-anoxic cycle patterns. Changes in flux, salinity build-up, and microbial activity (e.g., extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were assessed. Over the course of a 34 d test, the OMBR-MF hybrid system achieved high removal of total organic carbon (TOC) (86-92%), total nitrogen (TN) (63-76%), and PO4-P (57-63%). The oxic-anoxic cycle time of 0.5-1.5 h was identified to be the best operating condition. Incorporation of MF membrane effectively alleviated salinity build-up in the reactor, allowing stable system operation.

The roles of microalgae and bacteria in wastewater treatment

“…Besides organic matter oxidation, biological nitrification is another important process happening in the aeration tank which ammonium ions are oxidized to nitrite ions and then to nitrate ions (Pathak et al, 2020). The process is comprised of two main steps including the conversion of ammonium nitrogen to nitrite nitrogen and from the newly converted nitrite to nitrate nitrogen (Gerardi 2003).…”

Treatment of Wastewater from a Food and Beverage Industry Using Conventional Wastewater Treatment Integrated with Membrane Bioreactor System: A Pilot-Scale Case Study

“…Since the scenario in the industry wastewater demand has a limitation regarding the footprint, the MBR system needs to be able to offer the ability to treat high flow rates of water and high loading rates intake with a smaller system footprint [ 12 , 13 ]. In addition, the MBR system has to be capable of providing stable system operation, which may ease the industrial personnel system handling despite its capability to undergo a nitrification and denitrification process in the degradation of organic matter in a wastewater treatment system [ 14 ]. MBR is also flexible in terms of its suitability to be installed after undergoing an aerobic or anaerobic pre-treatment system in a wastewater treatment plant [ 15 , 16 ].…”