Investigating of Operational Parameters on the Performance of Membrane Electro bio Reactor System for Synthetic Wastewater Treatment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M. Sc.Student of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology

2 Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology

3 Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology

Abstract

 
In this study, the effect of the electrocoagulation process on the performance of the membrane bioreactor system was investigated using a laboratory setup and synthetic wastewater. First, the reactor without electric current, then in four different modes including anode and cathode (Al), the distance between anode and cathode (3.5, 2.5 cm), electric field (2.5, 1.5 Volts), and continuous or alternating current applications (one min on, 4 min off) were evaluated. Recent research shows that all of these factors affect membrane flow flux, activated sludge properties, and soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) concentrations. The results showed that for EMBR reactor (voltage 1.5 V, the distance between anode and cathode 2.5 cm and application of intermittent current (one min on, 4 min off), better performance in reducing membrane fouling, reducing SMP and EPS. So that the membrane fouling rate, EPS, and SMP were reduced by 57%, 59%, and 58%, respectively. Also, the COD removal was 75% for the MBR reactor and 99% for the EMBR.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1]        Al-Qodah, Z., Al-Qudah, Y., Omar, W., "On the performance of electrocoagulation-assisted biological treatment processes: a review on the state of the art", Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(28), pp. 28689-28713, (2019).
[2]        Ensano, B., Borea, L., Naddeo, V., Belgiorno, V., de Luna, M. D., Ballesteros Jr, F. C., "Combination of electrochemical processes with membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment and fouling control: A review". Frontiers in Environmental Science, 4, p. 57, (2016).
[3]        Al-Malack, M. H., Al-Nowaiser, W. K., "Treatment of synthetic hypersaline produced water employing electrocoagulation-membrane bioreactor (EC-MBR) process and halophilic bacteria". Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 6(2), pp. 2442-2453, (2018).
[4]        Unal, B. O., Dizge, N., Karagunduz, A., Keskinler, B., "Combined electrocoagulation and electrooxidation process in electro membrane bioreactor to improve membrane filtration effectiveness", Bioresource Technology Reports, 7, p. 100237, (2019).
[5]        Manica, M., Battistelli, A. A., Belli, T. J., Souza, J. B., Lapolli, F. R., Vidal, C. M. S., "Effects of electrocoagulation on membrane fouling and treatment performance of a membrane bioreactor operated without sludge discharge", International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, pp. 1-14, (2020).
[6]        Su, F., Liang, Y., Liu, G., Mota Filho, C.R., Hu, C., Qu, J., "Enhancement of anti-fouling and contaminant removal in an electro-membrane bioreactor: Significance of electrocoagulation and electric field", Separation and Purification Technology, 248, p. 117077, (2020).
[7]        Bani-Melhem, K. and Elektorowicz, M., "Performance of the submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) with iron electrodes for wastewater treatment and fouling reduction", Journal of Membrane Science, 379(1-2), pp. 434-439, (2011).
[8]        Tafti, A. D., Mirzaii, S. M. S., Andalibi, M. R., Vossoughi, M., "Optimized coupling of an intermittent DC electric field with a membrane bioreactor for enhanced effluent quality and hindered membrane fouling", Separation and Purification Technology, 152, pp. 7-13, (2015).
[9]        Hasan, S. W., Elektorowicz, M., Oleszkiewicz, J. A., "Start-up period investigation of pilot-scale submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) treating raw municipal wastewater", Chemosphere, 97, pp. 71-77, (2014).
[10]      Bani-Melhem, K., Elektorowicz, M., " Development of a novel submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR): performance for fouling reduction", Environmental science & technology, 44(9): pp. 3298-3304, (2010).
[11]      Hasan, S.W., Elektorowicz, M., Oleszkiewicz, J. A.,"Correlations between trans-membrane pressure (TMP) and sludge properties in submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) and conventional membrane bioreactor (MBR)", Bioresource technology, 120: pp. 199-205, (2012).
[12]      Saraji, G. N., Dargahi, H., "Study of quality of work life (QWL)", Iranian Journal of Public Health, pp. 8-14, (2004).
[13]      Rahimi, Z., Zinatizadeh, A. A., Zinadini, S., "Milk processing wastewater treatment in an MBR: A comparative study on the use of two synthetic anti-fouling PES-UF membranes", Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 7(5), p. 103369.
[14]      Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr AL, Randall RJ., "Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent", J. biol. Chem, 193(1), pp. 265-275, (1951).
[15]      Dubois, M., Gilles, K. A., Hamilton, J. K., Rebers, P. T., Smith, F., "Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances", Analytical chemistry, 28(3), pp. 350-356, (1956).
[16]      Sheibaninia, A., Valaie, N., Mohammad Sadeghi, S., Azizi, F., "The evaluation of accuracy of article writing in scientific journals of dentistry in 2006", Research in Medicine, 33(1), pp. 5-11, (2009).
[17]      Tan, M., Qiu, G., Ting, Y. P., "Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on wastewater treatment and their removal behavior in a membrane bioreactor", Bioresource technology, 185, pp. 125-133, (2015).
[18]      Yang, S. F., Li, X. Y., "Influences of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the characteristics of activated sludge under non-steady-state conditions", Process Biochemistry, 44(1), pp. 91-96, (2009).
[19]      Bottino, A., Capannelli, G., Comite, A., Mangano, R., " Critical flux in submerged membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment", Desalination, 245(1-3), pp. 748-753. (2009)
[20]      Hazrati, H., Karimi, N., Jafarzadeh, Y., "Performance and antifouling properties of PVDF/PVP and PSf membranes in MBR: A comparative study", Membrane Water Treatment, 11(2), pp. 159-166, (2020).
[21]      Akamatsu, K., Lu, W., Sugawara, T., Nakao, S. I., "Development of a novel fouling suppression system in membrane bioreactors using an intermittent electric field", Water research, 44(3), pp. 825-830, (2010).
[22]      Barceló, D., "MembraneBioreactor (MBR) asanAdvancedWastewater Treatment Technology", Emerging Contaminants from Industrial and Municipal Waste: Removal technologies, 5, p. 275, (2008).
[23]      Dignac, M. F., Urbain, V., Rybacki, D., Bruchet, A., Snidaro, D., Scribe, P., " Chemical description of extracellular polymers: implication on activated sludge floc structure", Water Science and Technology, 38(8-9), pp. 45-53, (1998).
[24]      Liu, L., Liu, J., Gao, B., Yang, F., "Minute electric field reduced membrane fouling and improved performance of membrane bioreactor", Separation and Purification Technology, 86, pp. 106-112, (2012).
[25]      Grady Jr, C. L., Daigger, G. T., Love, N. G., Filipe, C. D., "Biological wastewater treatment. CRC press, (2011).
[26]      Mohamadi, S., Hazrati, H., Shayegan, J., "Influence of a new method of applying adsorbents on membrane fouling in MBR systems", Water and Environment Journal, 34, pp. 355-366, (2020).
[27]      Chae, S. R., Ahn, Y. T., Kang, S. T., Shin, H. S., "Mitigated membrane fouling in a vertical submerged membrane bioreactor (VSMBR)", Journal of Membrane Science, 280(1-2), pp. 572-581, (2006).
[28]      Pollice, A., Giordano, C., Laera, G., Saturno, D., Mininni, G., "Rheology of sludge in a complete retention membrane bioreactor", Environmental technology, 27(7), pp. 723-732, (2006).
[29]      Ouyang, K., Junxin, L. I. U., "Effect of sludge retention time on sludge characteristics and membrane fouling of membrane bioreactor", Journal of Environmental Sciences, 21(10), pp. 1329-1335 (2009).
[30]      Liu, L., Zhao, F., Liu, J., Yang, F., "Preparation of highly conductive cathodic membrane with graphene (oxide)/PPy and the membrane antifouling property in filtrating yeast suspensions in EMBR", Journal of membrane science, 437, pp. 99-107, (2013).
[31]      Tourney, J., Ngwenya, B. T., "The effect of ionic strength on the electrophoretic mobility and protonation constants of an EPS-producing bacterial strain", Journal of colloid and interface science, 348(2), pp. 348-354, (2010).
[32]      Wilén, B. M., Jin, B., Lant, P., "Relationship between flocculation of activated sludge and composition of extracellular polymeric substances", Water Science and Technology, 47(12), pp. 95-103, (2003).
[33]      Watanabe, Y., Kimura, K., Itonaga, T., "Influence of dissolved organic carbon and suspension viscosity on membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactor", Separation science and technology, 41(7), pp. 1371-1382, (2006).
[34]      Chang, I. S., Lee, C. H., "Membrane filtration characteristics in membrane-coupled activated sludge system—the effect of physiological states of activated sludge on membrane fouling", Desalination, 120(3), pp. 221-233 (1998).
[35]      Le-Clech, P., Jefferson, B., Judd, S. J., "Impact of aeration, solids concentration and membrane characteristics on the hydraulic performance of a membrane bioreactor", Journal of Membrane Science, 218(1-2), pp. 117-129, (2003).
[36] Bai, R., Leow, H. F., "Microfiltration of activated sludge wastewater—the effect of system operation parameters", Separation and Purification Technology, 29(2), pp. 189-198, (2002).
Iranian Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume 21, Issue 120 - Serial Number 120
March and April 2022
Pages 21-38

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics