A new hybrid membrane bioreactor (HMBR) has been developed to obtain a compact module, with a small footprint and low requirement for aeration. The aim of this research was to assess its performance. The system consists of a single vertical reactor with a filtration membrane unit and, above this, a sponge fixed bed as support medium. The aeration system is located under the membrane unit, allowing for membrane cleaning, oxygenation, biofilm thickness control and bulk liquid mixing. Operated under continuous aeration, a bench-scale reactor (70 L) was fed with pre-treated, raw (unsettled) municipal wastewater. BOD5 and suspended solids removal efficiencies (96 and 99% respectively) were comparable to those obtained with other membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Total nitrogen removal efficiencies of 80% were achieved, which is better than those obtained in other HMBRs and similar to the values reached using more complex MBRs with extra anoxic tanks, intermittent aeration or internal deflectors.
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Research Article|
March 01 2012
Evaluation of a hybrid vertical membrane bioreactor (HVMBR) for wastewater treatment
L. Rodríguez-Hernández;
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
E-mail: leticia.rodriguez@unican.es
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A. L. Esteban-García;
A. L. Esteban-García
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
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A. Lobo;
A. Lobo
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
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J. Temprano;
J. Temprano
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
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C. Álvaro;
C. Álvaro
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
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A. Mariel;
A. Mariel
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
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I. Tejero
I. Tejero
1Group of Environmental Engineering, Department of Sciences and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander (Cantabria), Spain
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Water Sci Technol (2012) 65 (6): 1109–1115.
Article history
Received:
July 26 2011
Accepted:
November 04 2011
Citation
L. Rodríguez-Hernández, A. L. Esteban-García, A. Lobo, J. Temprano, C. Álvaro, A. Mariel, I. Tejero; Evaluation of a hybrid vertical membrane bioreactor (HVMBR) for wastewater treatment. Water Sci Technol 1 March 2012; 65 (6): 1109–1115. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2012.950
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