Comparison between moving bed-membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems: Influence of wastewater salinity variation

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 162; pp. 60 - 69
• Main Authors: Di Trapani, Daniele, Di Bella, Gaetano, Mannina, Giorgio, Torregrossa, Michele, Viviani, Gaspare
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: acclimation; Ammonium Compounds - isolation & purification; Applied sciences; biofilm; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Biofouling; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Biomass; Biopolymers - analysis; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Carbon; Deposition; Electric Impedance; Exact sciences and technology; Extracellular Space - chemistry; Filtration; Fouling; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Kinetics; MB-MBR; Membrane fouling; Membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Pilot Projects; Pollution; Respirometry; Saline wastewater; Salinity; Various methods and equipments; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste water; Waste Water - chemistry; wastewater; wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; MB-MBR; Saline wastewater; Membrane fouling; Respirometry; Membrane reactor; Bioreactor; Fouling; Moving bed; Membrane; Brackish water; Waste water; Salinity
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.126

•MBR and MB-MBR pilot plants under gradual salinity increase were compared.•Respirometry showed that the biomass activity was not significantly affected by the salinity.•Membrane fouling was mainly due to irreversible cake deposition.•Biofilm detachment phenomena affected the irreversible cake deposition.•Pore fouling tendency was more pronounced for the MBR pilot plant. Two pilot plant systems were investigated for the treatment of wastewater subject to a gradual increase of salinity. In particular, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a moving bed biofilm membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) were analyzed. Carbon and ammonium removal, kinetic constants and membranes fouling rates have been assessed. Both plants showed very high efficiency in terms of carbon and ammonium removal and the gradual salinity increase led to a good acclimation of the biomass, as confirmed by the respirometric tests. Significant biofilm detachments from carriers were experienced, which contributed to increase the irreversible superficial cake deposition. However, this aspect prevented the pore fouling tendency in the membrane module of MB-MBR system. On the contrary, the MBR pilot, even showing a lower irreversible cake deposition, was characterized by a higher pore fouling tendency.