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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Membrane Bioreactors for wastewater reuse: Respirometric assessment of biomass activity during a two year survey
Giorgio ManninaDaniele Di TrapaniGaspare Vivianisubject
Kinetic and stoichiometric parameterIntegrated fixed-film activated sludge-membrane bioreactorStrategy and Management0208 environmental biotechnologyBiomass02 engineering and technology010501 environmental sciencesMembrane bioreactor01 natural sciencesIndustrial and Manufacturing EngineeringBioreactorOrganic matterEffluent0105 earth and related environmental sciencesGeneral Environmental Sciencechemistry.chemical_classificationMathematical modelling2300Settore ICAR/03 - Ingegneria Sanitaria-AmbientaleRenewable Energy Sustainability and the EnvironmentBuilding and ConstructionRespirometryPulp and paper industry020801 environmental engineeringStrategy and Management1409 Tourism Leisure and Hospitality ManagementActivated sludgechemistryWastewaterEnvironmental scienceMembrane bioreactorNitrificationdescription
Abstract Stricter effluent limits, water shortage conditions, land availability requires today even more the needs of advanced wastewater treatments. Attractive solutions come from membrane bioreactors (MBR), Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) or combinations (i.e., IFAS-MBRs). One crucial aspect for the applicability of this overall new technology, compared to the conventional activated sludge systems, is the lack of knowledge for design and manage (e.g., kinetic constants, optimal operative conditions etc.). In view of the above frame, the aim of the present study was to assess the kinetic and stoichiometric parameters of bacterial species in MBRs by means of respirometric techniques. Plant configurations, operational conditions and wastewater features (domestic/industrial) were analysed. Four different MBR plants were investigated: i) sequencing batch MBR subjected to a gradual salinity increase; ii) pre-denitrification MBR treating saline wastewater contaminated by hydrocarbons; iii) University of Cape Town (UCT) MBR treating domestic wastewater subjected to a carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio variation; iiii) UCT- IFAS -MBR treating domestic wastewater. Results show a significant influence on biomass respiratory activity from both plant configurations and operational conditions. The salinity increase severely affected the activity of autotrophic species, while heterotrophic community was mainly influenced by the C/N variation. Moreover, it was observed a specialization in the IFAS-MBR configuration, with the suspended biomass more affine to organic matter, whilst biofilm in the nitrification process. The respirometric analysis confirmed to be an effective tool for the evaluation of the biomass kinetic and stoichiometric parameters. The results of this study can be useful for the application of mathematical models in the design phase and for the monitoring of biomass viability during plant operations.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-11-01 |