Changes in Mixed Liquor and Organic Foulant Properties Affect Membrane Fouling for Non-Nitrifying and Nitrifying Biological Conditions

Authors: Trussell, R. Shane; Jang, Namjung; Merlo, Rion P; Kim, In S; Hermanowicz, Slawomir W; Jenkins, David

Source: Water Environment Research, Volume 81, Number 3, March 2009 , pp. 255-264(10)

Publisher: Water Environment Federation

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Abstract:

A submerged membrane bioreactor treated settled municipal wastewater at a non-nitrifying solids retention time (SRT) condition (2 days) and a nitrifying SRT condition (10 days), to determine the effect of nitrification on mixed liquor properties and membrane fouling.

Membrane fouling rates were almost 10 times greater at the 2-day SRT compared with the 10-day SRT, and results showed increased concentrations of high-molecular-weight organic molecules at the 2-day SRT. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results of the fouled membrane from the 2-day SRT exhibited strong peaks for carbohydrates, while the fouled membrane from the 10-day SRT did not. This is consistent with the fact that, although the total carbohydrate soluble microbial product concentration was highest at the 10-day SRT, the carbohydrate consisted of mostly low-molecular-weight (<1 kDa) molecules, and 97% of this carbohydrate passed through the membrane at the 10-day SRT.

Keywords: submerged membrane bioreactor; solids retention time; modified fouling index; membrane fouling; molecular weight; soluble microbial products; extracellular polymeric substances

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.2175/106143008X370395

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