The impact of solid/floc holdup on oxygen transfer in a rotating hollow fiber membrane bioreactor under endogenous conditions

Abstract

A set of oxygen transfer experiments in clean water and three different activated sludge concentrations were conducted with fine and coarse bubble aeration in a rotating hollow fiber membrane bioreactor to observe the impact of different rotational speeds on the oxygen transfer rate. The results showed that with increasing membrane rotational speed, the oxygen transfer coefficient enhanced while the α-factor showed similar values at comparable sludge concentrations and solid/floc holdups. The highest improvement rates occurred during the experiments with coarse bubble aeration at 50 rpm and the lowest specific airflow rate. The solid/floc holdup appears to universally impact oxygen transfer depletion regardless of what reactor type, diffuser setup and membrane rotational speed were used in the wastewater experiments. HIGHLIGHTS The rotating hollow fiber membrane improved the oxygen transfer coefficient.; Increasing membrane rotational speed did not improve the α-factor.; The solid/floc holdup concept is introduced to explain oxygen transfer depletion.;

Keywords

• membrane bioreactor
• oxygen transfer
• solid holdup
• α-factor