Effect of salinity variation on the autotrophic kinetics of the start-up of a membrane bioreactor and hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactor at low hydraulic retention time

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 714 - 720
• Main Authors: Leyva-Díaz, J C, Rodríguez-Sánchez, A, González-López, J, Poyatos, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Ammonium; Ammonium compounds; Biodegradation; Biofilms; Biological effects; Biomass; Bioreactors; Desalination; Drinking water; Duration; Hydraulic retention time; Kinetics; Liquor; Membranes; Municipal wastewater; Nitrogen; Nitrogen removal; Reaction kinetics; Reactors; Removal; Retention; Retention time; Salinity; Salinity effects; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Water treatment plants
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2017.585

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactor (hybrid MBBR-MBR) for municipal wastewater treatment were studied to determine the effect of salinity on nitrogen removal and autotrophic kinetics. The biological systems were analyzed during the start-up phase with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 h, total biomass concentration of 2,500 mg L in the steady state, and electric conductivities of 1.05 mS cm for MBR and hybrid MBBR-MBR working under regular salinity and conductivity variations of 1.2-6.5 mS cm for MBR and hybrid MBBR-MBR operating at variable salinity. The variable salinity affected the autotrophic biomass, which caused a reduction of the nitrogen degradation rate, an increase of time to remove ammonium from municipal wastewater and longer duration of the start-up phase for the MBR and hybrid MBBR-MBR.