Simultaneous organics and nutrients removal in side-stream aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor (AGMBR). (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iorhemen, Oliver T.; Hamza, Rania A.; Zaghloul, Mohamed S.; Tay, Joo Hwa
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 21(2018)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Aerobic granulation -- AGMBR -- Membrane bioreactor (MBR) -- Membrane fouling -- Nutrients removal -- Organics removal; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2017.12.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Highlights: Simultaneous organics and nutrients (N & P) removal in side-stream AGMBR was studied. The system achieved 98% chemical oxygen demand (COD) degradation at 3000 mg COD/L. Nutrients removal of 96–99% for total nitrogen and ≥95% for PO4 -P were attained. The removal is due to layered granular structure: oxic, anoxic, and anaerobic zones. The study demonstrates AGMBR's potential to remove both organics and nutrients. Abstract: Membrane fouling mitigation has been variously reported in aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor (AGMBR). AGMBR has also achieved, to varying degrees, the removal of organics and nitrogen-based compounds from wastewater. However, scanty information is available in the literature on phosphorus removal in AGMBR. Thus, the present study focused on simultaneous removal of organics and both nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in AGMBR at semi-pilot-scale. Aerobic granules were cultivated in a cylindrical reactor with a working volume of 19 L, diameter of 15 cm, and height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio of 8. The effluent from the granular reactor was discharged into a side-stream membrane module. At steady state, the granule mean size, 5-min sludge volume index (SVI5 ), SVI30, and MLSS were 576 μm, 40 mL/g, 37 mL/g, and 9200 mg/L, respectively. Results show that the system achieved 98% chemical oxygen demand (COD) degradation, 96–99% total nitrogen (TN) removal, and ≥95% removal of PO4-P. The outstanding removal of both organics and nutrients in the AGMBR is attributed to the coexistence of aerobic and anaerobic layers within the granule as well as the anaerobic feeding adopted. These findings demonstrate the potential of AGMBR to simultaneously remove organics and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphate)