Evaluating the Optimal Operating Conditions of MBR for Domestic Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Objective: Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is known as new technology for domestic wastewater treatment. This research aims on the performance evaluation of MBR in pollutants removal and membrane fouling in different operational conditions. Materials and methods: For this purpose, a pilot with 140 L net volume and flat-sheet membrane was started up and continuously fed with real wastewater in Ekbatan wastewater treatment plant. It has been operated for 100 days with different organic loading rates (OLR) of 0.58, 0.71 and 1.55 kgCOD/m3.d and aeration conditions of DO>4 mg/L and DO4 mg/L). In addition, membrane fouling increases whenever OLR is increased or the aeration is reduced. Actually, the trans-membrane pressure (TMP) is statistically correlated with OLR (R2=0.91). Conclusion: The findings reveal that MBR is an efficient technology for domestic wastewater treatment and performs rather constant in times of aeration reduction or OLR enhancement. However, it requires supplementary techniques for TN and TP removal.

Keywords

• fouling
• membrane bioreactor (mbr)
• pilot
• technology
• wastewater treatment.