Performances of anaerobic and aerobic membrane bioreactors for the treatment of synthetic textile wastewater

Bioresour Technol. 2015 Sep:192:564-73. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.06.024. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Abstract

This study aims at comparatively evaluating anaerobic and aerobic MBRs for the treatment of azo-dye containing synthetic wastewater. Also, the filtration performances of AnMBR and AeMBR were compared under similar operating conditions. In both MBRs, high COD removal efficiencies were observed. Although almost complete color removal was observed in AnMBR, only partial (30-50%) color removal was achieved in AeMBR. AnMBR was successfully operated up to 9 L/(m(2)h) (LMH) and no chemical cleaning was required at 4.5 LMH for around 50 days. AeMBR was operated successfully up to 20 LMH. The filtration resistance of AnMBR was generally higher compared to AeMBR although reversible fouling rates were comparable. In both MBRs, offline chemical cleaning with NaOCl and sulfuric acid almost completely removed irreversible fouling and the resistances of chemically cleaned membranes were close to those of new membranes.

Keywords: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Color removal; Fouling; Membrane bioreactor; Textile industry wastewater.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerobiosis / physiology
  • Anaerobiosis / physiology
  • Azo Compounds / isolation & purification
  • Azo Compounds / metabolism*
  • Bioreactors / microbiology*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Sewage / microbiology
  • Textile Industry
  • Textiles / microbiology
  • Ultrafiltration / instrumentation
  • Wastewater / microbiology*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*
  • Water Purification / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Azo Compounds
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Sewage
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical