Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification using baffled osmotic membrane bioreactor-microfiltration hybrid system at different oxic-anoxic conditions for wastewater treatment

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 253; p. 109685
• Main Authors: Pathak, Nirenkumar, Phuntsho, Sherub, Tran, Van Huy, Johir, M.A.H., Ghaffour, Noreddine, Leiknes, TorOve, Fujioka, Takahiro, Shon, Ho Kyong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2020
• Subjects: Microfiltration (MF); Osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR); Salinity build-up; Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND); Osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR); Microfiltration (MF); Salinity build-up; Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND)
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109685

The efficacy of a baffled osmotic membrane bioreactor-microfiltration (OMBR-MF) hybrid system equipped with thin film forward osmosis membrane for wastewater treatment was evaluated at laboratory scale. The novel OMBR-MF hybrid system involved baffles, that separate oxic and anoxic zones in the aerobic reactor for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND), and a bioreactor comprised of thin film composite-forward osmosis (TFC-FO) and polyether sulfone-microfiltration (PES-MF) membranes. The evaluation was conducted under four different oxic-anoxic cycle patterns. Changes in flux, salinity build-up, and microbial activity (e.g., extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were assessed. Over the course of a 34 d test, the OMBR-MF hybrid system achieved high removal of total organic carbon (TOC) (86–92%), total nitrogen (TN) (63–76%), and PO4–P (57–63%). The oxic-anoxic cycle time of 0.5–1.5 h was identified to be the best operating condition. Incorporation of MF membrane effectively alleviated salinity build-up in the reactor, allowing stable system operation.
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•Baffled OMBR-MF hybrid system examined for nutrient removal from simulated sewage.•Performance of baffled OMBR-MF system assessed at four oxic-anoxic cycle time.•At 0.5–1.5 h oxic-anoxic cycle time highest organic and nutrient removal achieved.•MF membrane alleviated salinity build up to 2.5 g/L.