Effects of flux enhancing polymer on the characteristics of sludge in membrane bioreactor process

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 51; no. 6-7; pp. 151 - 157
• Main Authors: Yoon, S H, Collins, J H, Musale, D, Sundararajan, S, Tsai, S P, Hallsby, G A, Kong, J F, Koppes, J, Cachia, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01-01-2005
• Subjects: Biopolymers; Bioreactors; Costs; Experiments; Fouling; Membrane processes; Membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Oxygen - chemistry; Oxygen - metabolism; Permeability; Phenols; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - isolation & purification; Sewage; Sludge; Stress, Mechanical; Time Factors; Toxicity; Ultrafiltration; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2005.0633

A newly developed membrane performance enhancer (MPE) was used to prevent membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) process. It transpired that 1,000 mg/l of MPE reduced polysaccharide levels from 41 mg/I to 21 mg/I on average under the experimental condition. Repeated experiments also confirmed that 50-1,000 mg/l of MPE could reduce membrane fouling significantly and increase the intervals between membrane cleanings. Depending on MPE dosages and experimental conditions, trans-membrane pressure (TMP) increase was suppressed for 20-30 days, while baseline TMP surged within a few days. In addition, MPE allowed MBR operation even at 50,000 mg/l of total solid and reduced permeate COD. However, no evidence of toxicity for sludge was found from respiratory works.