New urban wastewater treatment with autotrophic membrane bioreactor at low chemical oxygen demand/N substrate ratio

The potential for total nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater has been evaluated in an autotrophic membrane bioreactor running with a low chemical oxygen demand (COD)/N ratio to simulate its combination with an upstream physicochemical process that retains a large proportion of organic matter. The tests were conducted in a laboratory scale submerged membrane bioreactor loaded with a synthetic influent. Nitrogen loading rate was 0.16 kg_N−NH4+.m⁻³.d⁻¹ and sodium acetate was added as a carbon source. Results have shown that nitrogen elimination can reach 85% for a COD/N ratio of 5, with COD removal exceeding 97%. However, a COD/N ratio of 3.5 was found to be the limiting factor for successfully reaching the overall target value of 10 mgN.L⁻¹ in the effluent. Nevertheless, low COD/N ratios make it possible to work with low total suspended solid concentrations in the bioreactor, which greatly facilitates membrane fouling control by a simple aeration and backwashing strategy.