BF-MBR: PROS AND CONS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW REACTOR DEIGNS AND OPERATION

摘要

Coupling biofilm reactors with membrane processes as biofilm membrane bioreactors (BFMBR)is an interesting development as an alternative technology to activated sludge membranebioreactors (AS-MBR). Biofilm technology for wastewater treatment can provide substantiallylower suspended solid environments for membrane filtration compared to activated sludgeprocesses. Potential benefits are; reduced energy consumption for aeration systems (lowerviscosity), less membrane clogging problems, lower fouling potentials, ease of membrane cleaning,and new membrane module designs (i.e. higher membrane packing densities). This study was aimedto propose and investigate alternative membrane reactor designs and process configurations of theBF-MBR process. Alternative and novel biofilm reactor designs have been investigated, forexample; a double-deck aerated moving bed biofilm reactor, two-stage aerobic-anaerobic biofilmreactor. The performance and design of the biofilm reactors was aimed to determine TSS control,effluent quality, and enhanced membrane filterability. The biofilm effluent on average had low TSS(typically <50 mg/L), low turbidities and FCOD. Alternative membrane modules and membranefiltration unit designs have been investigated. These include flat sheet systems, tubular and capillarymembranes supplied from various manufacturers.