Abstract
A microfiltration-membrane-coupled bioreactor (MMB) on pilot scale was operated for 135 days to investigate its technical feasibility in urban wastewater reclamation. Different operation parameters such as sludge retention time from 5 to 30 days, hydraulic retention time from 3.75 to 7.5 h, and membrane flux from 50 to 100 L.m −2.h −1, were tested. The highest sludge concentration attained was 15.1 g.L −1 (as suspended solids, SS) and 8.9 g.L −1 (as volatile suspended solids, VSS); the VSS to SS ratio of MMB sludge was 0.55 on average. The ratio of sludge VSS to sludge COD was found to be 1.45. The mass loading rates of MMB were close to those of conventional activated sludge process (CASP) but the volumetric loading rates, two to four times those a CASP. Up to 95% of COD, 97.7% of ammonia nitrogen and 100% of suspended solids were removed on average. Further analysis indicated that the bioreactor was responsible for 87% of the total COD removal and only 8% were attributed to the membrane separation. The reclaimed water could be reused either directly or indirectly for municipal or industrial purposes.
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