This study compared the performance between membrane-coupled moving bed biofilm reactor (M-MBBR) and a conventional membrane bioreactor (MBR) in parallel. Extensive tests were conducted in three pilot-scale experimental units over 6 months. Emphasis was placed on the factors that would affect the performance of membrane filtration. The results showed that the concentrations of soluble microbial product (SMP), colloidal total organic carbon and transparent exopolymer particles in the M-MBBR systems were not significantly different from those in the control MBR system. However, the fouling rates were much higher in the M-MBBR systems as compared to the conventional MBR systems. This indicates membrane fouling potential was related not only to the concentration of SMP, but also to their sources and characteristics. The addition of polyaluminum chloride could reduce the fouling rate of the moving bed biofilm reactor unit by 56.4–84.5% at various membrane fluxes.
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Research Article|
December 30 2013
Comparative study on membrane fouling between membrane-coupled moving bed biofilm reactor and conventional membrane bioreactor for municipal wastewater treatment
W. Yang;
1School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
E-mail: yangw@uoguelph.ca
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W. Syed;
W. Syed
1School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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H. Zhou
H. Zhou
1School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
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Water Sci Technol (2014) 69 (5): 1021–1027.
Article history
Received:
September 17 2013
Accepted:
December 16 2013
Citation
W. Yang, W. Syed, H. Zhou; Comparative study on membrane fouling between membrane-coupled moving bed biofilm reactor and conventional membrane bioreactor for municipal wastewater treatment. Water Sci Technol 1 March 2014; 69 (5): 1021–1027. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2013.823
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