Effect of organic loading rate on organic matter and foulant characteristics in membrane bio-reactor

M A H Johir; S Vigneswaran; A Sathasivan; J Kandasamy; C Y Chang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.12.002

Effect of organic loading rate on organic matter and foulant characteristics in membrane bio-reactor

Bioresour Technol. 2012 Jun:113:154-60. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.12.002. Epub 2011 Dec 11.

Authors

M A H Johir¹, S Vigneswaran, A Sathasivan, J Kandasamy, C Y Chang

Affiliation

¹ Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.

PMID: 22206913
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.12.002

Abstract

In this study, the influence of organic loading rate (OLR) on the performance of a membrane bio-reactor (MBR) was investigated. The MBR was operated with 6 different OLRs between 0.5 and 3.0 kg COD/m(3)d. The hydrodynamic parameters of the MBR were kept constant. The hydraulic retention time and sludge retention time were kept at 8h and 40 d respectively. From the experimental investigation, it was found that the removal efficiency of DOC, COD and NH(4)-N decreased when OLRs were increased from 0.5 to 3.0 kg COD/m(3)d. Higher OLRs of 2.75-3.0 kg COD/m(3)d resulted in a higher transmembrane pressure development. The fractionation of organic matters showed more hydrophilic substances with higher OLRs. A detailed organic matter characterization of membrane foulant, soluble microbial product and extracellular polymeric substances showed that bio-polymers type substances together with humic acid and lower molecular neutral and acids were responsible for membrane fouling.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bioreactors*
Chromatography, Gel
Membranes, Artificial*

Substances

Membranes, Artificial