The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and effluent quality of a pilot-scale intermittently aerated and fed, externally submerged membrane bioreactor (MBRes) treating municipal wastewater. The effluent quality of the MBRes was evaluated regarding system ability to comply with the Greek legislative limits for restricted and unrestricted wastewater reuse. The average permeate flux was 13.9 L m−2 h−1, while the transmembrane pressure remained above the level of −110 mbar. Experimental data showed that biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, PO43−- P and total suspended solids removal efficiencies were 97.8, 93.1, 89.6, 93.2 and 100%, respectively, whereas turbidity was reduced by 94.1%. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli were fully eliminated by ultrafiltration and disinfection methods, such as chlorination and ultraviolet radiation. In agreement with the Greek legislation (Joint Ministerial Decree 145116/11) and the guidelines recommended for the Mediterranean countries, the disinfected effluent of the MBRes system can be safely reused directly for urban purposes.
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Research Article|
June 19 2017
Microbiological and physicochemical evaluation of the effluent quality in a membrane bioreactor system to meet the legislative limits for wastewater reuse
Konstantinos Azis;
Konstantinos Azis
Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, Xanthi 67100, Greece
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Charalampos Vardalachakis;
Charalampos Vardalachakis
Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, Xanthi 67100, Greece
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Spyridon Ntougias;
Spyridon Ntougias
Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, Xanthi 67100, Greece
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Paraschos Melidis
Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, Xanthi 67100, Greece
E-mail: pmelidis@env.duth.gr
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Water Sci Technol (2017) 76 (7): 1796–1804.
Article history
Received:
January 09 2017
Accepted:
June 05 2017
Citation
Konstantinos Azis, Charalampos Vardalachakis, Spyridon Ntougias, Paraschos Melidis; Microbiological and physicochemical evaluation of the effluent quality in a membrane bioreactor system to meet the legislative limits for wastewater reuse. Water Sci Technol 9 October 2017; 76 (7): 1796–1804. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2017.364
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