The Comparison of MBBR and ASP for Treatment on Petrochemical Wastewater

Abstract

In order to study the character of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) in treating petrochemical wastewater, the authors offer the comparison experiment between MBBR and activated sludge process (ASP) regarding such factors as hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate, and air flow rate. The optimal condition of MBBR is that air flow rate be equal to 1.25 L/min and HRT be equal to 8 hr. Under these conditions, when organic loading rate is about 1.0 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/(m3·day), the removal of COD produced by MBBR can reach more than 80%, and the effluent COD from MBBR is less than 50 mg/L. While the organic loading rate reaches the value of 2.0 kg COD/(m3·day), the removal of COD is more than 70%. Under the optimal conditions, the removal of COD produced by MBBR is higher than ASP in all the process. MBBR has stronger capacities regarding the impact of organic loading compared with ASP.