Effect of psychrophilic temperature shocks on a gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor (Gl-AnMBR) treating synthetic domestic wastewater. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dolejs, Petr; Ozcan, Onur; Bair, Robert; Ariunbaatar, Javhklan; Bartacek, Jan; Lens, Piet N.L.; Yeh, Daniel H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 16(2017)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor -- Mesophilic -- Psychrophilic -- Temperature shocks -- Dissolved methane; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2016.12.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Highlights: Gl-AnMBR showed satisfactory robustness suitable for decentralized wastewater treatment. Membrane maintained high quality effluent despite decreased microbial activity at 15 °C shocks. Almost 50% of overall CH4 production dissolved in the effluent at 15 °C shocks, while only 3% at 35 °C. Accumulation of organics in sludge bed was observed at psychrophilic conditions. Abstract: Municipal wastewater is a renewable resource containing energy, nutrients and water. These valuables can be recovered via new, innovative technologies such as the gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor (Gl-AnMBR), which is especially suitable for decentralized wastewater treatment. To better understand the effects of fluctuating environmental conditions on the treatment performance, the impact of short-term temperature shocks was studied. We present a laboratory study of a 10 L Gl-AnMBR equipped with an external tubular ultrafiltration membrane treating synthetic domestic wastewater at mesophilic (35 °C) conditions with a series of short-term (12–48 h) cold (15 °C) shocks applied prior to switching to psychrophilic (15 °C) conditions. The average COD removal under mesophilic conditions was as high as 94 ± 2%, even during the temperature shocks. Under psychrophilic conditions, more than 80% of the influent COD accumulated in the reactor (compared to 39% under mesophilic conditions). The results suggest that an abrupt and short-term temperature decrease from 35 to 15 °C can largely be absorbed by our system with no negative effect on effluent quality.