Abstract
Two pilot-scale hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactors were operated in parallel for the treatment of salinity-amended urban wastewater under 6 hours of hydraulic retention time and 2500 mg L−1 total solids concentration. Two salinity conditions were tested: the constant salinity of 6.5 mS cm−1 electric conductivity (3.6 g L−1 NaCl) and the tidal-like variable salinity with maximum 6.5 mS cm−1 electric conductivity. An investigation was developed on the biofouling produced on the ultrafiltration membrane surface evaluating its bacterial community structure and its potential function in the fouling processes. The results showed that biofouling was clearly affected by salinity scenarios in terms of α-diversity and β-diversity and bacterial community structure, which confirms lower bacterial diversity under variable salinity conditions with Rhodanobacter and Dyella as dominant phylotypes. Microorganisms identified as bio-mineral formers belonged to genera Bacillus, Citrobacter, and Brevibacterium. These findings will be of help for the prevention and control of biofouling in saline wastewater treatment systems.
Highlights
Wastewater discharges to the environment are one of the main environmental problems in our world today
The effect of salinity over the membrane bioreactor (MBR) and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)-MBR systems has been evaluated and is still being investigated in order to fully understand its role in the functioning of these systems and to develop tools to mitigate its impact and increase the performance of salinity wastewater treatment systems [7]
The removal of organic matter in the hybrid MBBR-MBR system subjected to variable salinity conditions was very good during the whole steady-state operation period with 99.51% removal of
Summary
Wastewater discharges to the environment are one of the main environmental problems in our world today. Several technologies have been developed for the treatment of wastewater such as the activated sludge process, which is the most commonly applied technology for urban wastewater treatment worldwide [1]. More novel technologies than the activated sludge process such as the moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactor (MBBR-MBR) have been used for the treatment of urban and industrial wastewater [2,3,4]. The effect of salinity over the membrane bioreactor (MBR) and MBBR-MBR systems has been evaluated and is still being investigated in order to fully understand its role in the functioning of these systems and to develop tools to mitigate its impact and increase the performance of salinity wastewater treatment systems [7]
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