Use of combined UASB + eMBR treatment for removal of emerging micropollutants and reduction of fouling

• Published in: Aqua (London, England) Vol. 70; no. 7; pp. 984 - 1001
• Main Authors: Karen Mora-Cabrera, Peña-Guzmán, Carlos, Trapote, Arturo, Prats, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford IWA Publishing 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Aluminum; Bioreactors; Carbamazepine; Chemical oxygen demand; combined treatment; Contaminants; Current density; current density effect; Diclofenac; Domestic water; Electric currents; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Environmental impact; Ethinylestradiol; Fouling; Ibuprofen; membrane fouling; Membrane processes; Membranes; Micropollutants; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Organic matter; Organic phosphorus; Pharmaceuticals; Phosphorus; Phosphorus removal; Pollutants; Reactors; Reduction; Removal; Sludge; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; uasb + embr; Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors; Water pollution; Water treatment; Spain
• ISSN: 1606-9935; 2709-8028; 1605-3974; 2709-8036
• DOI: 10.2166/aqua.2021.058

This study employs a novel combined pilot plant consisting of an anaerobic reactor followed by a membrane electrochemical bioreactor (eMBR) to treat domestic water containing selected contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) [ibuprofen (IB), carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DCF) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2)]. The first phase operated as a conventional membrane bioreactor to achieve the removal of organic matter [chemical oxygen demand (COD)], the CECs and phosphorus. A removal rate of 96.3% for COD, 94.5% for IB, 37.1% for CBZ, 87.1% for DCF and 96% for EE2 was obtained. In the three subsequent phases, current density (CD) of 5, 10 and 15 A/m2 was applied successively in the eMBR with the aim of investigating the effects on the removal of the former components and the fouling of the membrane. After the application of 5 and 10 A/m2 CD, the removal rate of COD decreased. Regarding phosphorus, a CD of 5 A/m2 was enough to achieve the rate of 97% and the membrane fouling suffered a substantial reduction too. Finally, the experimental results were subject to statistical analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon tests to validate the influence of each CD.