A fouling suppression system in submerged membrane bioreactors using dielectrophoretic forces

A novel method was developed to suppress membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors. The method is based on the dielectrophoretic (DEP) motion of particles in an inhomogeneous electrical field. Using a real sample of biomass as feed, the fouling-suppression performance using DEP with different electrical field intensities (60–160 V) and different frequencies (50–1000 Hz) was investigated. The fouling-suppression performance was found to relate closely with the intensity and frequency of the electrical field. A stronger electrical field was found to better recover the filtrate flux. This is because of a stronger DEP force acting on the biomass particles close to the membrane's surface. Above an intensity and frequency value of 130 V and 1 kHz, respectively the permeate flux was reduced due to an electrothermal effect.     

A fouling suppression system in submerged membrane bioreactors using dielectrophoretic forces

A novel method was developed to suppress membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors. The method is based on the dielectrophoretic (DEP) motion of particles in an inhomogeneous electrical field. Using a real sample of biomass as feed, the fouling-suppression performance using DEP with different electrical field intensities (60-160 V) and different frequencies (50-1000 Hz) was investigated. The fouling-suppression performance was found to relate closely with the intensity and frequency of the electrical field. A stronger electrical field was found to better recover the filtrate flux. This is because of a stronger DEP force acting on the biomass particles close to themembrane's surface. Above an intensity and frequency value of 130 V and 1 kHz, respectively the permeate flux was reduced due to an electrothermal effect.     

Mechanism of calcium mitigating membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors

Two parallel membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were operated under different calcium dosages (168.5, 27 mg/L) to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of retarding membrane fouling by adding calcium. The results showed that the particle size of sludge flocs increased and the particle size distribution tended to be narrow at the optimum dosage (168.5 mg/L). Calcium was effective in decreasing loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS) in microbial flocs and soluble microbial products (SMP) in the supernatant at the dosage of 168.5 mg/L by strengthening the neutralization and bridging of EPS with flocs. Furthermore, the amount of COD_S and COD_C decreased in both the mixed liquor and the fouling cake layer on the membrane surface. In order to compare the filtration characteristics of cake layers from the MBRs with the two calcium dosages, the specific cake resistance and the compressibility coefficient were measured. The specific cake resistance from the MBR with optimum dosage (168.5 mg/L) was distinctly lower than that with low dosage (27 mg/L). The compressibility coefficient of the cake layers under two dosages were respectively attained as 0.65, 0.91. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three-dimensional confocal scanning laser microscope analysis (CLSM) images were utilized to observe the gel layer directly.     

淹没式膜生物反应器中膜污染机理的研究

为减小微生物絮体对膜的污染,设计了一种具有沉降室的膜生物反应器,膜A与膜B分别淹没在上清液和污泥混合液中以相同的抽吸方式运行,与预期结果相反,膜A比膜B的污染速度还快．为探讨膜污染机理,考察了污泥混合液中不同组分对膜污染的影响,利用扫描电镜和原子力显微镜分析了膜面污染层的特征．结果发现,在污泥混合液与上清液中膜面污染层在微观结构上存在显差异,其方差平均粗糙度Rms分别为132．3nm和75．2nm．经膜污染机理分析认为：微生物絮体和大分子有机物会在膜面形成污染层,该污染层作为“二次膜”影响膜过滤性能．上清液中细小的微生物絮体和大分子有机物形成的污染层相对致密,会加剧膜污染．     

Effect of components in activated sludge liquor on membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor

Introduction The membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have shown many advantages over conventional activated sludge processes, which apply membrane modules instead of the secondary settle tank to make a better separation of the solids and liquid and have been grea…     

Anoxic gas recirculation system for fouling control in anoxic membrane reactor

Anoxic gas recirculation system was applied to control the membrane fouling in pilot-scale 4-stage anoxic membrane bioreactor(MBR). In the anaerobic-anoxic-anoxic-aerobic flow scheme,hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) membrane(0.2 μm, 7.2 m2/module) was submerged in the second anoxic zone. During 8 months operation, the average flux of the membrane was 21.3L/(m2·hr). Chemical cleaning of the membrane was conducted only once with sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. Dissolved oxygen(DO) concentration in the second anoxic zone was maintained with an average of 0.19 ± 0.05 mg/L. Gas chromatography analysis showed that the headspace gas in the second anoxic reactor was mainly consisted of N2(93.0% ± 2.5%), O2(3.8% ± 0.6%), and CO2(3.0% ± 0.5%), where the saturation DO concentration in liquid phase was 1.57 mg/L. Atmospheric O2 content(20.5% ± 0.8%) was significantly reduced in the anoxic gas. The average pH in the reactor was 7.2 ± 0.4. As a result, the recirculation of the anoxic gas was successfully applied to control the membrane fouling in the anoxic MBR.     

投加粉末活性炭对一体式膜-生物反应器膜污染的影响研究

通过试验考察了粉末活性炭（PAC）对一体式膜-生物反应器中膜污染的影响．在2种类型的污泥（膨胀污泥和非膨胀）中，投加适量PAC可以减轻膜污染，表现为临界膜通量的提高和连续运行中膜污染增长速率的降低．当污泥性质和浓度不同时，最佳PAC投加范围亦不同．PAC投量过大会引起临界通量下降．PAC的投加显著降低了混合液中溶解性物质的浓度，减轻了溶解性物质的吸附和膜孔堵塞污染，并改善了絮体结构．污泥比阻与污泥混合液膜过滤性能之间有很好的相关性，可作为污泥混合液膜过滤性能的快速评价指标．     

Investigation on removal pathways of Di 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate from synthetic municipal wastewater using a submerged membrane bioreactor

Highly hydrophobic Di 2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most prevalent plasticizers in wastewaters. Since its half-life in biological treatment is around 25 days, it can be used as an efficiency indicator of wastewater treatment plant for the removal of hydrophobic emerging contaminants. In this study, the performance of submerged membrane bioreactor was monitored to understand the effect of DEHP on the growth of aerobic microorganisms. The data showed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia concentration were detected below 10 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively for operating conditions of hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 4 and 6 hr, sludge retention time (SRT) = 140 day and sludge concentration between 11.5 and 15.8 g volatile solid (VS)/L. The removal efficiency of DEHP under these conditions was higher and ranged between 91% and 98%. Results also showed that the removal efficiency of DEHP in biological treatment depended on the concentration of sludge, as adsorption is the main mechanism of its removal. For the submerged membrane bioreactor, the pore size is the pivotal factor for DEHP removal, since it determines the amount of soluble microbial products coming out of the process. Highly assimilated microorganisms increase the biodegradation rate, as 74% of inlet DEHP was biodegraded; however, the concentration of DEHP inside sludge was beyond the discharge limit. Understanding the fate of DEHP in membrane bioreactor, which is one of the most promising and futuristic treatment process could provide replacement for conventional processes to satisfy the future stricter regulations on emerging contaminants.     

膜-生物反应器中活性污泥沉降性能与膜污染相关性研究

结合连续流小试，对膜．生物反应器运行过程中，活性污泥沉降性能的变化及其对膜污染的影响进行了研究．结果表明，随着运行时间的增长，该系统内丝状菌大量繁殖，活性污泥沉降性能变差，SVI值升高．随之，膜过滤压差(过滤阻力)平均上升速率有所增加，膜过滤周期缩短．膜过滤压差的“两阶段性(平缓上升期和加速上升期)”变化规律趋于明显，平缓上升期和加速上升期的膜过滤压差上升速率随污泥SVI值的升高分别呈现下降和上升的趋势．污泥沉降性能的变化对膜污染过程产生明显影响．电镜观察表明，污泥沉降性能对膜过滤压差的影响与膜面污染层的结构和厚度有关．     

Membrane fouling control by ultrasound in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor

In this study, ultrasound was used to control the membrane fouling online in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AMBR). Short-term running experiments were carried out under different operating conditions to explore feasible ultrasonic parameters. The experimental results indicated that when the crossflow velocity was more than 1.0 m/s, membrane fouling could be controlled effectively only by hydrodynamic methods without ultrasound. When ultrasound was applied, an ultrasonic power range of 60–150 W was suitable for the membrane fouling control in the experimental system. The experimental results showed that the membrane fouling was controlled so well that membrane filtration resistance (ΣR) could stay at 5 × 10¹¹ m⁻¹ for more than a week with the crossflow velocity of 0.75 m/s, which equaled the effect of crossflow velocity of more than 1.0 m/s without ultrasound. Translated from Techniques and Equipment for Environmental Pollution Control, 2006, 7(4): 25–29 [译自: 环境污染治理技术与设备]     

厌氧膜生物反应器污泥组分对膜污染的影响

对一体式厌氧膜生物反应器污泥进行离心分离,考察污泥各组分和膜污染的特性之间的关系.通过对已有理论模型进行变形,推导出阻力的数学模型方程式,并分析了膜通量、膜阻力的变化.同时对混合液悬浮固体进行了颗粒粒径分析,并与好氧膜生物反应器的污泥颗粒进行了对比分析.结果表明,污泥混合液悬浮固体形成阻力占膜总阻力的70%,胶体物质形成阻力占22%,溶解性物质形成阻力占8%.     

Control of membrane fouling during hyperhaline municipal wastewater treatment using a pilot-scale anoxic/aerobic-membrane bioreactor system

Membrane fouling limits the effects of long-term stable operation of membrane bioreactor (MBR). Control of membrane fouling can extend the membrane life and reduce water treatment cost effectively. A pilot scale anoxic/aerobic-membrane bioreactor (A/O-MBR, 40 L/hr) was used to treat the hyperhaline municipal sewage from a processing zone of Tianjin, China. Impact factors including mixed liquid sludge suspension (MLSS), sludge viscosity (μup), microorganisms, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), aeration intensity and suction/suspended time on membrane fouling and pollution control were studied. The relationships among various factors associated with membrane fouling were analyzed. Results showed that there was a positive correlation among MLSS, sludge viscosity and trans-membrane pressure (TMP). Considering water treatment efficiency and stable operation of the membrane module, MLSS of 5 g/L was suggested for the process. There was a same trend among EPS, sludge viscosity and TMP. Numbers and species of microorganisms affected membrane fouling. Either too high or too low aeration intensity was not conducive to membrane fouling control. Aeration intensity of 1.0 m³/hr (gas/water ratio of 25:1) is suggested for the process. A long suction time caused a rapid increase in membrane resistance. However, long suspended time cannot prevent the increase of membrane resistance effectively even though a suspended time was necessary for scale off particles from the membrane surface. The suction/suspended time of 12 min/3 min was selected for the process. The interaction of various environmental factors and operation conditions must be considered synthetically.     

Relationship between sludge settleability and membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor

The evolution of activated sludge settleability and its relationship to membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor were studied at a lab-scale equipment fed with synthetic wastewater. It was found that sludge volume index (SVI) gradually increased and the sludge settleability was reduced, which was caused by the propagation of filamentous bacteria. With increasing SVI, the average increasing rate of trans-membrane pressure increased, the stable filtration period was shortened, and the two stages (smooth stage and accelerating stage) of the trans-membrane pressure were more obvious. At the same time, the increasing rate of trans-membrane pressure at the smooth stage decreased and the rate at the accelerating stage increased with SVI, respectively. The observation by using scanning electronic microscopes showed the cake layer with loose structure and large thickness formed on the membrane surface due to the appearance of filamentous bacteria and high SVI in sludge. Influence of the sludge settleability on the trans-membrane pressure was related to the structure and thickness of the cake layer on the membrane. Translated from ACTA Scientiae Circumstantiae, 2005, 25(3): 396–400 [译自: 环境科学学报]     

附加电场对中空纤维膜污染的减缓作用

通过对新型附加电场的中空纤维膜组件的实验室研究,探讨了电场对缓解微滤膜污染的作用.在恒定流量下过滤含有20mg/L腐殖酸的原水,无电压时,跨膜压力从0.0200MPa上升到0.0300MPa耗时2h,而施加60V电压时该时间段延长至10h.研究表明,原水中的腐殖酸在电场中发生电泳迁移,减少了向膜表面的移动,其对膜的污染被减缓;同时腐殖酸在电场中发生凝聚现象,沉积在膜表面形成疏松的滤饼层,是跨膜压力增加缓慢的另一原因.     

SMBR系统活性污泥性质对膜污染特征的影响

采用浸没式膜生物反应器(Submerged membrane bioreactor,SMBR),在曝气量300 L·h-1、膜通量15 L·m-2·h-1、抽吸/间歇时间为8 min/2 min的工况下,在缺氧区采用不同搅拌强度运行,研究了活性污泥特性及其对滤饼层特征的影响.试验结果表明,搅拌强度对系统主要水质指标的去除没有明显的影响.但随着搅拌强度的突然增加,会导致活性污泥上清液胶体态物质升高,胞外聚合物由(28.94±9.61)mg·g-1(以VSS计,下同)增加到(52.57±7.98)mg·g-1,膜污染速率增加2.13倍;滤饼层污染引起的跨膜压差(Trans-membrane pressure,TMP)占到总TMP的93.64%以上.     

Study on membrane fouling of submerged membrane bioreactor in treating bathing wastewater

A pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) was used to treat the bathing wastewater for more than 90 d. Several factors affecting membrane fouling were studied, including the variation in transmembrane pressure (TMP), changes in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), and distribution of membrane resistance (R). The relationships between R and EPS concentration were found to be R = 0.00008(EPSS)2.915 in the mixed liquor (EPSS) and R = 0.2853(EPSm) - 0.824 on the membrane surface (EPSm). The constant...     

膜-生物反应器在我国的研究与应用新进展

膜-生物反应器(MBR)作为一种污水处理新技术,其研究和应用在我国受到了广泛关注.主要以1995-2006年发表在国内中文期刊上的关于MBR研究与应用的700多篇文献为基础,分析了与MBR构型、应用领域和研究机构等相关的文献数量分布,综述了在MBR新工艺、膜污染及其控制技术和污水处理类别等方面的研究进展,总结了MBR在污水再生利用中的应用概况,指出了未来MBR技术研究的挑战和工业应用的发展方向.     

Thermodynamic prediction and experimental investigation of short-term dynamic membrane formation in dynamic membrane bioreactors: Effects of sludge properties

In dynamic membrane bioreactors(DMBRs), a dynamic membrane(DM) forms on a support material to act as the separation membrane for solids and liquids. In this study, batch filtration tests were carried out in a DMBR using nylon mesh(25 μm) as support material to filtrate sludge suspensions of variable properties from three different sources to evaluate the effects on the short-term DM formation process(within 240 min). Furthermore, the extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek(XDLVO) theory was applied to analyze the sludge adhesion and cohesion behaviors on the mesh surface to predict quantitative parameters of the short-term DM formation process(including initial formation and maturation stage). The filtration results showed that the order of the initial DM formation time(permeate turbidity 1 NTU as an indicator) was as follows: sludge with poor settleability and dewaterability normal sludge sludge with poor flocculability. Moreover, normal sludge(regarding settleability, dewaterability,flocculability, and extracellular polymeric substance) showed a more acceptable DM formation performance(short DM formation time, low permeate turbidity, and high permeate flux) than sludge with poor settleability, dewaterability and flocculability. The influence of sludge properties on the initial DM formation time corroborates the prediction of sludge adhesion behaviors by XDLVO theory. Additionally, the XDLVO calculation results showed that acid–based interaction, energy barrier, and secondary energy minimum were important determinants of the sludge adhesion and cohesion behaviors. Therefore, short-term DM formation process may be enhanced to achieve stable long-term DMBR operation through positive modification of the sludge properties.     

污泥龄对膜生物反应器污泥特性及膜污染的影响

研究了污泥龄对胞外聚合物(EPS)总量、紧密粘附胞外聚合物(TB)和松散附着胞外聚合物(LB)含量及其中蛋白质与多糖比例的影响.结果表明,随污泥龄的延长,混合液EPS总量增加,TB和LB中蛋白质与多糖比例发生变化.这种变化改变了细菌表面电荷分布,增大了细菌表面亲水基和疏水基的比例,使细菌的存在状态由不稳定型(R型)向稳定型(S型)转变,降低了混合液Zeta电位,SVI值增大.采用SPSS软件对膜污染的主要因子进行了相关性分析,Zeta电位、上清液悬浮固体浓度、相对疏水性的相关系数分别为-0.818、0.853、0.832.综合考虑膜污染阻力和污泥特性,膜生物反应器的污泥龄应控制在优势菌最小世代时间的120倍以下.     

SRT对UCT-MBR反硝化除磷性能与膜污染行为的影响

采用脱氮除磷膜生物反应器(UCT-MBR)工艺处理冀南地区城市污水,考察了SRT对UCT-MBR工艺反硝化除磷性能与膜污染行为的影响.结果表明:较短(15d)与较长(40d)SRT均不利于反硝化聚磷菌(DPAOs)的富集;SRT控制在25d时系统的反硝化除磷性能得到最大程度强化,反硝化聚磷菌(DPAOs)占聚磷菌(PAOs)的数量比例及缺氧除磷率达到最大值,分别稳定在50.9%和88%,并且此时系统总磷(TP)、总氮(TN)去除率也达到最大值91.7%、73.6%,出水浓度分别稳定在0.48, 13.3mg/L左右;SRT对系统COD、氨氮(NH₄⁺-N)的去除效能影响不大,COD、NH₄⁺-N平均去除率分别为89.8%、99.7%,出水浓度分别稳定在30.8, 0.15mg/L;随着SRT的延长,膜池混合液固体(MLSS)浓度升高,分子量大于100kDa、小于1kDa的溶解性微生物代谢产物(SMP)浓度和胞外聚合物(EPS)比污泥浓度升高及污泥粒径(PSD)减小,是导致膜池污泥可滤性变差的主要原因,从而致使系统膜渗透性加速降低、持续运行周期缩短,而红外光谱(FT-IR)分析表明SRT对膜污染物质的组成无显著影响,光谱折射率与SMP、EPS含量呈现一致性.