6533b829fe1ef96bd128a58a
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The influence of solid retention time on IFAS-MBR systems: analysis of system behavior.
Giorgio ManninaGaspare VivianiMarco CapodiciAlida CosenzaDaniele Di Trapanisubject
Nitrogen0208 environmental biotechnologychemistry.chemical_element02 engineering and technology010501 environmental sciencesMembrane bioreactor01 natural sciencesWaste Disposal Fluidbiofilmlaw.inventionnutrients removalBioreactorslawEnvironmental ChemistryWaste Management and DisposalFiltration0105 earth and related environmental sciencesWater Science and TechnologySettore ICAR/03 - Ingegneria Sanitaria-AmbientaleSewagemembrane foulingChemistryPhosphorusMembrane foulingMembranes ArtificialGeneral Medicinesludge retention timePulp and paper industryNitrification020801 environmental engineeringUniversity of Cape Town pilot plantPilot plantActivated sludgeBiofilmsNitrificationhuman activitiesCarbondescription
A University of Cape Town Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge Membrane Bioreactor (UCT-IFAS-MBR) pilot plant was operated at different values of the sludge retention time (SRT). Three SRTs were investigated at different durations: indefinitely, 30 and 15 days. The organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal, kinetic/stoichiometric parameters, membrane fouling tendency and sludge filtration properties were assessed. The findings showed that by decreasing the SRT, the pilot plant could maintain excellent carbon removal efficiencies throughout the experiments. In contrast, the biological carbon removal showed a slight nitrification and was slightly affected by the decrease of the SRT, showing high performance (approximately 91%, on average). Thus, the biofilm might have helped sustain the nitrification throughout the experiments. The average phosphorus removal performance increased slightly with a decrease in SRT, achieving the maximum efficiency (61.5%) at a SRT of 15 days. After a 30-day SRT, an increase in resistance due to pore blocking and a general worsening of the membrane filtration properties occurred.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-08 | Environmental technology |