Moving Bed Research Articles

REMOVAL OF ORGANIC MATTERS FROM PIGGERY WASTEWATER IN ANAEROBIC MOVING BED BIOFILM REACTOR (MBBR)

The objective of this study is to investigate the performance of Anaerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) on the removal of organic matters (using COD and TSS values) in piggery wastewater using two kinds of carrier: Polyurethane (PU) and Polyethylene (PE) - Different organic loading rates (OLRs) varying from 4 to 10 gCOD/l/day with controlled temperature 37±2oC, pH 7.0-7.5 were investigated. The seeded sludge was collected at the anaerobic tank of the wastewater treatment plant of the Sabeco Beer Manufacturing Plant (Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi) and grown in the MBBR for 15 days. For porous PU material, the COD and TSS removal efficiencies achieved 69.7 and 67.3% and 54.9 and 65.5% at OLR 4 and 6 gCOD/l/day, respectively. Whereas for wheel shape PE material, it was found that the COD removal efficiencies were slightly higher with OLR of 6 gCOD/l/day (71%%), even with higher OLR at 10 gCOD/l.day, the COD removal efficiency didn‘t seem to significantly increase (73.3 %). For TSS removal, in comparison between PU and PE, the later found slightly better with the same OLRs of 4 and 6 gCOD/l/day, reaching 63.2 and 67 %, respectively. However, TSS removal efficiencies were found to be higher with PE carrier at higher OLR, reaching 72% at 10 gCOD/l/day.

Expanding Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography into Ternary Separations in Analogy to Dividing Wall Column Distillation

Chromatographic separation techniques are widely applied for complex separations. For binary or pseudo-binary separation problems, it is well known that continuous chromatographic separation proces...

Simulated Moving Bed Purification for Flavonoids from Tartary Buckwheat Shell.

Tartary buckwheat shell is an important by-product of Tartary buckwheat production. Previous studies shown that Tartary buckwheat shells are rich in flavonoids, which are responsible for their antioxidant properties. Due to lack of advanced separation technologies, the purification for Tartary buckwheat shell is still in the laboratory scale, and could not realize the industrialization production. According to the results of static adsorption experiment, AB-8 resin was selected for Tartary buckwheat shell flavonoids (TBSF) adsorption. The adsorption isotherm, resin adsorption thermodynamic and dynamic adsorption parameters were studied. And the adsorption of AB-8 resin for TBSF was determined as an endothermic process. Results of preparative chromatography experiment showed that TBSF could be efficiently purified by AB-8 resin. And the optimal parameters were: feed concentration 25mg/mL, desorption flow rate 2.5mL/min. Under these conditions, the TBSF were separated effectively. Results of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) indicated that there were seven kinds of flavonoids in Tartary buckwheat shell, which were mainly from the 40 and 60% of ethanol elution. Simulated moving bed (SMB) was applied for TBSF purification the first time in this study. The optimal conditions of SMB were as following: adsorption zone flow rate 7.0mL/min, contaminant removal zone flow rate 17.9mL/min, product elution zone flow rate 22.3mL/min, regeneration zone flow rate 21.5mL/min, water washing zone flow rate 27.5mL/min, switching time 1260S, and the purity and yield of TBSF was 90±0.22% and 85±0.28%, respectively. The IC50 values of α-glucosidase inhibition activities and DPPH scavenging activity of the purified TBSF were 57.09±0.15 and 7.92±0.23μg/mL, respectively. The constituents of TBSF showed higher α-glucosidase inhibition activities and antioxidant than raw TBSF and rutin. The results suggest that SMB is a proper method for industrial production of TBSF, and SMB could be applied for other natural products purification.

A Moving Bed Reactor for Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Metal Oxides

High-temperature thermal energy storage enables concentrated solar power plants to provide base load. Thermochemical energy storage is based on reversible gas–solid reactions and brings along the advantage of potential loss-free energy storage in the form of separated reaction products and possible high energy densities. The redox reaction of metal oxides is able to store thermal energy at elevated temperatures with air providing the gaseous reaction partner. However, due to the high temperature level, it is crucial to extract both the inherent sensible and thermochemical energies of the metal-oxide particles for enhanced system efficiency. So far, experimental research in the field of thermochemical energy storage focused mainly on solar receivers for continuously charging metal oxides. A continuously operated system of energy storage and solar tower decouples the storage capacity from generated power with metal-oxide particles applied as heat transfer medium and energy storage material. Hence, a heat exchanger based on a countercurrent moving bed concept was developed in a kW -scale. The reactor addresses the combined utilization of the reaction enthalpy of the oxidation and the extraction of thermal energy of a manganese–iron-oxide particle flow. A stationary temperature profile of the bulk was achieved with two distinct temperature sections. The oxidation induced a nearly isothermal section with an overall stable off-gas temperature. The oxidation and heat extraction from the manganese–iron oxide resulted in a total energy density of 569 kJ/kg with a thermochemical share of 21.1%.

Numerical Investigations of a Counter-Current Moving Bed Reactor for Thermochemical Energy Storage at High Temperatures

High temperature storage is a key factor for compensating the fluctuating energy supply of solar thermal power plants, and thus enables renewable base load power. In thermochemical energy storage, the thermal energy is stored as the reaction enthalpy of a chemically reversible gas-solid reaction. Metal oxides are suitable candidates for thermochemical energy storage for solar thermal power plants, due to their high reaction temperatures and use of oxygen as a gaseous reaction partner. However, it is crucial to extract both sensible and thermochemical energy at these elevated temperatures to boost the overall system efficiency. Therefore, this study focuses on the combined extraction of thermochemical and sensible energy from a metal oxide and its effects on thermal power and energy density during discharging. A counter-current moving bed, based on manganese-iron-oxide, was investigated with a transient, one-dimensional model using the finite element method. A nearly isothermal temperature distribution along the bed height was formed, as long as the gas flow did not exceed a tipping point. A maximal energy density of 933 kJ/kg was achieved, when ( Mn , Fe ) 3 O 4 was oxidized and cooled from 1050 ° C to 300 ° C . However, reaction kinetics can limit the thermal power and energy density. To avoid this drawback, a moving bed reactor based on the investigated manganese-iron oxide should combine direct and indirect heat transfer to overcome kinetic limitations.

Process of particles flow across staggered tubes in moving bed

Moving beds with staggered tubes are widely used in industrial applications to heat or cool solid particles. The heat transfer process is complicated and involves heat transfer amongst particles and between particles and tubes. Furthermore, the heat transfer mechanism is directly determined by the flow characteristics of particles across the outer surfaces of tubes because particles are the main heat carriers of particle flow. However, the particle flow across tubes is a kind of non-continuum flow, which is substantially different from Newtonian fluids, and the continuum theory is inappropriate for predicting particle flow in moving bed. In addition, little attention has been focused on this process. Thus, it is necessary to study the flow patterns of particles across tubes before studying the corresponding heat transfer mechanism. To describe this process, this work establishes a quasi-funnel flow (QFF) model, which can be used to calculate parameters, such as velocity field and residence time, by analyzing particle flow characteristics. The discrete element method (DEM) is used for a numerical simulation of three-dimensional particle flow across staggered tubes. The flow patterns, velocity field, typical particle trajectories and particle flow of local areas are obtained. Meanwhile, a moving bed experimental system is constructed, and the obtained results are used to verify the DEM numerical simulation results. Lastly, the results of the QFF model and that of the validated DEM numerical simulation are compared and found to be consistent. The ranges of the parameters required to describe the particle flow across tubes and the applicable range of the QFF model are also determined.

Coagulation-flocculation and moving bed biofilm reactor as pre-treatment for water recycling in the petrochemical industry.

Water recycling and reuse is of important value in water-using sectors like petrochemical industry. The aim of this research was to optimise the pre-treatment of petrochemical wastewater to undergo a further membrane treatment, with the final objective of water recycling within the same industry. Laboratory coagulation-flocculation tests prior to biological treatment were performed using Actiflo® Veolia commercial technology and an optimal coagulant dose of 30 mg/L ferric chloride was obtained. A bench-scale Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) system with two sequential reactors with working volumes of 5 L was filled with Z-carriers at 35% of their working volume. Organic loading rate (OLR) was varied from 0.2 to 3.25 kg/(m3 d) and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) ranged from 23.4 h to 4.5 h. High soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) removals were obtained in stationary states (80-90%) and the calculated maximum sCOD that the system could degrade was 4.96 ± 0.01 kg/(m3 d) at 23 ± 2 °C. Changes in feed composition did not decrease sCOD removals showing that MBBR is a robust technology and the coagulation-flocculation step could be by-passed. Further removal of total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity from the MBBR effluent would be required before a reverse osmosis (RO) step could be performed. A biofilm-forming genus, Haliscomenobacter spp., and an oil degrading genus Flavobacterium spp. were found in all the attached biomass samples. Acinetobacter spp. was the major bacterial genera found in suspended biomass. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the major phyla detected in the carrier samples while Proteobacteria the main one detected in the suspended biomass. The lack of fungal annotated sequences in databases led to a major proportion of fungal sequences being categorized as unclassified Fungi. The results obtained indicate that MBBR is an appropriate technology for hydrocarbon-degrading microorganism growth and, thus, for petrochemical wastewater pre-treatment for water regeneration.

Two birds with one stone: Simultaneous improvement of biofilm formation and nitrogen transformation in MBBR treating high ammonia nitrogen wastewater via exogenous N-acyl homoserine lactones

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is facing the challenges of slow start-up and poor treatment performance when treating high ammonia nitrogen wastewater, especially at low temperature. Exogenous N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) were proposed to improve the biofilm formation and pollutant removal simultaneously for the first time. The effects of 100 nM exogenous C6-HSL and C8-HSL on the distribution of AHLs, reactor performance, biofilm characteristics and microbial community structure were systematically investigated in six lab-scale MBBRs treating wastewater with 200 mg/L ammonia nitrogen at 25 °C and 5 °C. Results showed that exogenous AHLs exhibited more significant influences during the stable operation period rather than the start-up of MBBR. Biofilm growth and EPS secretion were significantly promoted by C8-HSL (p < 0.05) while inhibited by C6-HSL at 25 °C, however, the results were opposite at 5 °C. Denitrogenation-related enzyme activities and function genes, and abundances of bacteria possessing quorum sensing and pollutants degradation ability, were heightened by exogenous AHLs (p < 0.05), thus enhancing biofilm formation and pollutants removal at room and low temperature. This study inspired a feasible strategy towards synchronous enhancement of biofilm growth and performance of MBBR treating high ammonia nitrogen wastewater through exogenous AHLs.

Mathematical Modelling and Simulation of Adsorptive Moving Bed Reactor for Claus Process

Fixed bed reactors are widely used in desulfurization processes. However, this kind of reactors has an obvious disadvantage leading to discontinuous operation that the catalysts and adsorbents must be regenerated periodically. As a continuous operated reactor, moving bed reactor can let both gas and solids move through the reactor, making it possible to remove the saturated adsorbents as well as deactivated catalysts. Meanwhile, fresh gas and solids can be fed into the reactor. This paper builds mathematical model of adsorptive moving bed reactor based on Claus Process. The model is simulated with Aspen Custom Modeler. Simulation results show that adsorptive moving bed reactor has good performance in Claus Process. Under the reaction conditions, the adsorption ability is limited by the temperature. Adequate increment of adsorbent volume fraction in the solids can improve the reactor’s performance.

Removal of nutrients and organic pollutants from domestic wastewater treatment by sponge-based moving bed biofilm reactor

This study evaluates the efficiency of domestic wastewater treatment via Sponge-Based Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (S-MBBR). The laboratory-based treatment plan uses polyurethane sponge with a specific surface area was 260 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt; as a carrier. The treatment plan operated under four different organic load rate: OLR1 = 0.4 kg BOD/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;.day; OLR2 = 0.6 kg BOD/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;.day; OLR3 = 0.8 kg BOD/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;.day; and OLR4 = 1.0 kg BOD/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;.day. During 80 d of the experiment, the highest treatment efficiency was at the organic load rate of 0.4 kg BOD/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;.day, with COD, SS, TN and TP were found to be 85.0 ± 12.9%, 85.7 ± 5.3%, 68.9 ± 1.7%, and 40.3 ± 0.2%, respectively. In which, the influent SS concentration were from 117.3 to 126.0 mg/L, the effluent concentration were in ranged 18.0 to 34.22 mg/L, respectively. The values of influent and effluent COD were 298.8 ± 12.88 and 44.8 ± 3.78 mg/L in turn. The OLR1 influent TN, TP concentrations were respectively 47.9 ± 2.11 and 3.6 ± 0.15 mg/L; the effluent TN, TP concentration were 14.9 ± 0.18 and 2.2 ± 0.06 mg/L, respectively. The study suggests that the effluent is within the allowable limits of National technical regulation on domestic wastewater (Column B1), indicating the applicability of S-MBBR for the domestic wastewater treatment plant.

Operational optimization of a three-stage nitrification moving bed biofilm reactor (NMBBR) by obtaining enriched nitrifying bacteria: Nitrifying performance, microbial community, and kinetic parameters

A two-sludge system consisting of A2/O (Anaerobic Anoxic Oxic) and NMBBR (Nitrification Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) was developed. Stable and efficient denitrifying phosphorus removal can be realized by high-efficiency utilization of carbon sources in A2/O reactor with the electron acceptors of NOx−-N in a three-stage NMBBR (consisting of N1, N2, N3). The three-stage NMBBR was successfully started within 18 days without additional inoculation sludge. Then a long-term operation (22–120 d) for the optimization of nitrifying performance, microbial community, and kinetic parameters was investigated. The biofilm characteristics (MLSS and biofilm thickness) and real-time control parameters (DO and pH) initially revealed the differences of three stages, while FISH results confirmed the optimizing nitrifying bacteria populations including AOB, Nitrobacteria and Nitrospira (N1: 5.94 ± 0.12%; N2: 8.26 ± 0.42%; N3: 10.06 ± 0.27% on day 50), basically consisting with the qPCR results (N1: 4.05%; N2: 8.04%; N3: 14.14%). The specific ammonium oxidation rate (SAOR: 3.24–10.02 mg/(gMLSS·h)) and temperature coefficient (θ: 1.008–1.011) based on temperature variation (15–35 °C) exhibited a strong resistant ability to low temperature operation. Moreover, half-saturation constants (KN,AOB, KN,NOB, KO,AOB and KO,NOB) fitted by Monod equation proved that DO diffusion played a significant role than substrate utilization (NH4+-N and NO2−-N), but the diffusion resistance was negligible for flocs size smaller than 70 μm. Additionally, the dominant NOB (mainly Nitrospira) due to a higher KN,NOB and KO,NOB was more sensitive to mass transfer and diffusion resistance, which was helpful to understand the microbial competition for short-cut nitrification between AOB and NOB. Based on the above mechanism analysis, the MBBR optimization for the design and operation was put forward.

Fast start-up strategies of MBBR for mariculture wastewater treatment

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is widely used for ammonia removal in saline recirculating aquaculture systems but often faces a slow start-up problem. The aim of this study was to develop a strategy for the rapid start-up of MBBR treating synthetic mariculture wastewater. Changes in nitrification performance, biofilm characteristics and bacterial community were assessed in response to various start-up strategies: R1 as the control; R2 with step-decrease of inlet NH4+-N; R3 with step-increase of inlet salinity; R4 added with particulate organic matter (POM) and R5 inoculated with nitrifying bacteria. Results show that nitrification was completed on day 63 for R3, 16–18 days faster than the other strategies. The highest protein (28.2 ± 5.1 mg/g·VS) and polysaccharide (59.4 ± 0.4 mg/g·VS) contents were observed in R3, likely linked to the faster biofilm formation. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the typical constituents of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and DNA in biofilms. Moreover, along with the biofilm development in R3, the intensity of the peak at 1400 cm−1 (assigned to specific amides) decreased. Pyrosequencing of 16s rRNA revealed that Gammaproteobacteria was the predominating microbial community at class level (35.6%) in R3. qPCR analysis further verified the significantly higher gene copies of amoA (1.57 × 104 copies/μL) and nxrB (5.51 × 103 copies/μL) in R3. Results obtained make the elevated salinity strategy a promising alternative for the rapid nitrification start-up of saline wastewater.

Structure and Reactivity of Low-Rank Coal Chars Prepared from Fluidized Bed and Moving Bed Pyrolyzers and the Potential for Using Them in Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI)

Utilizing pyrolysis chars as the injection fuel in a blast furnace can reduce the dependence on high-quality pulverized coal injection (PCI) coal. In this study, the physical properties and reaction characteristics of chars prepared from two different industrial-scale pyrolyzers (fluidized bed and moving bed) are investigated. The results reveal remarkable component segregation in the char particles with different particle sizes. The properties of large-size char particles are found to better satisfy the PCI fuel requirement in a blast furnace. Compared with PCI coal, the char particles exhibit a rough surface, well-developed pore structure, and less-ordered chemical structure of carbon. Results from isothermal combustion, isothermal gasification, and drop tube furnace experiments show that both types of chars exhibit a better reactivity than PCI coal. The excellent reactivity of chars is closely related to its high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and relatively poor chemical ordering during conversion. Based on these characteristics, both fluidized bed char (FBC) and moving bed char (MBC) have a great potential to be used as PCI fuels. The application method of chars for PCI in a blast furnace is proposed finally.

Bio-carrier and operating temperature effect on ammonia removal from secondary wastewater effluents using moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR).

This study investigates the impact of bio-carriers' surface area and shape, wastewater chemistry and operating temperature on ammonia removal from real wastewater effluents using Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) operated with three different AnoxKaldness bio-carriers (K3, K5, and M). The study concludes the surface area loading rate, specific surface area, and shape of bio-carrier affect ammonia removal under real conditions. MBBR kinetics and sensitivity for temperature changes were affected by bio-carrier type. High surface area bio-carriers resulted in low ammonia removal and bio-carrier clogging. Significant ammonia removals of 1.420 ± 0.06 and 1.103 ± 0.06 g - N/m2. d were achieved by K3(As = 500 m2/m3) at 35 and 20 °C, respectively. Lower removals were obtained by high surface area bio-carrier K5 (1.123 ± 0.06 and 0.920 ± 0.06 g - N/m2. d) and M (0.456 ± 0.05 and 0.295 ± 0.05 g - N/m2. d) at 35 and 20 °C, respectively. Theta model successfully represents ammonia removal kinetics with θ values of 1.12, 1.06 and 1.13 for bio-carrier K3, K5 and M respectively. MBBR technology is a feasible choice for treatment of real wastewater effluents containing high ammonia concentrations.

Moving Bed Reactors: Challenges and Progress of Experimental and Theoretical Studies in a Century of Research

Moving bed reactors (MBRs) have been proposed as a sign of significant progress in the reaction engineering area for performance improving and energy saving. Since their advent in 1890, the MBRs ha...

Dose-dependent effects of acetate on the biodegradation of pharmaceuticals in moving bed biofilm reactors

Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) are promising as a post-treatment for removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater. However, the effect of easily degradable carbon sources on the degradation of pharmaceuticals is unclear. This study shows the influence of acetate on the degradation of 26 pharmaceuticals in an MBBR was dose- and compound-dependent: while the degradation of venlafaxine, tramadol and ciprofloxacin was promoted (increase of reaction rate constant (k) by 133%, 212%, 55%) by acetate, its presence caused negative effects on the removal of ibuprofen, citalopram and diclofenac (decrease of k by 76%, 57%, 44%). The deconjugation of acetyl-sulfadiazine was clearly slowed down (decrease of k by 75%) by the dosed acetate, probably due to feedback inhibition by abundant acetate. 17 out of 25 tested compounds were found to be independent of the acetate dosage, which suggested dosing acetate induced minor effects on most of pharmaceuticals’ removal. Enrichment of S- or first eluted enantiomer of 4 β-blockers and the metabolite metoprolol acid was observed. Both non-enantioselective (rapid at elevated compound concentration) and enantioselective enzymes (slower and predominant at lower compound concentration) played a part in the biodegradation. High doses of acetate slowed down the enantiomeric enrichment of atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol and metoprolol acid, which demonstrated that the acetate is able to up- or down-regulate enzymes involved in the enantioselective degradation of β-blockers and thus reveals a complex co-metabolism relationship between transformation pathways of pharmaceuticals and carbon source.

Granular flow around the horizontal tubes of a particle heat exchanger: DEM-simulation and experimental validation

Moving bed heat exchangers are a central element in solar thermal power plants using granular heat transfer fluids. Their performance is determined by a complex granular flow field in the device. This calls for accurate simulation models forming the basis for novel design tools.In this study we propose a discrete element model (DEM) to calculate the dense granular flow field around the horizontal tubes of a moving bed heat exchanger.The simulation results are compared to measurement data using particle image velocimetry (PIV). In the upper part of the tube the model agrees well with the experiment, capturing the relevant flow phenomena like the stagnant zone on top of the tube.Below the tube, a void area is observed both in the experiment and the simulation. However, the PIV analysis of the experimental data doesn’t resolve the void area and the associated flow phenomena due to the highly dynamic flow state, the inherent nature of PIV technique and additional disturbing effects in the setup. Therefore, the model can’t be validated in the corresponding regions.Still, the deviations between simulation and experiment are confined to a very narrow region directly at the tube surface in the lower part of the tube. In the rest of the flow field, the model proves to be a reliable tool for further investigations and will be used in future studies.

Numerical investigation of heat transfer for elliptical tube in granular flow using DEM

Moving bed heat exchangers take important part in terms of extracting heat from granular materials. Circular tube is main part of heat exchanger in most studies and implements. Two heat transfer deterioration zone for circular tubes in granular flow is found and results in a low heat transfer coefficient. Elliptic tubes receive increase attention recent years for their better heat transfer performance for fluid. In this work numerical investigation based on DEM has been produced to obtain heat transfer performance of elliptic tubes in granular flow with different axis ratio. The result shows that elliptic tubes with axis ratio from 1.2 to 2.0 have a narrower area of heat transfer deterioration in granular flow and consequently a higher effective heat transfer coefficient from than circular tube (axis ratio =1.0) with the same long axis.

After Suicide, and: An Elegy for All the Birds of This World, and: If a Grosbeak Doesn't Use Its Beak the Men Would Mistake It for a Vagina, and: Like Every Good Boy I Look Forward to Meeting My (The)Rapist

After Suicide, and: An Elegy for All the Birds of This World, and: If a Grosbeak Doesn't Use Its Beak the Men Would Mistake It for a Vagina, and: Like Every Good Boy I Look Forward to Meeting My (The)Rapist Akpa Arinzechukwu (bio) After Suicide When you died mum moved your bed,I took your place. It was not difficult changing the television channelfrom Keeping Up with the Kardashians to Black-ish. At night your dog kept barking,we thought it was learning to accept the heat. We wanted happiness, you wanted flowers.& when the chrysanthemum germinated you asked if I had ever thought of losing something,I said no, because denial eases the pain. I once lost my Ping-Pong ball, it was found in your chest.We are always wanting what we can't have. At the prom, I pretended I was you just to dancewith Jud, the one who never looked at me. This night I write your name first& I can't . . . all over the paper Hoping you won't be found in me.The leaves scatter, decomposing. [End Page 141] An Elegy for All the Birds of This World Sometimes the birds, with broken wings,Flutter midair, plenty of soot trailing their path. Sometimes the birds, cold, wait in the rainTo their death. I know what no one wants to say.I am poignant. I am blood. I am not A moviegoer but I know what everyone knows:Some movies after the intro & cast list Open on some desperate pigeonsCornering Broadway Ave. with shits & Gossips & poking. My mother owned a cage.She never had a bird. She was used to the old myth of gettingWhatever is admired too much. There's a bowl of water in the cage,A poplar growing inside. Everything was beautiful beforeMy dad ran away. Before my brother died. Before I was born. Before my sisters mothered meTill my teen-age. I could wear a dungaree & not be ashamed.Sometimes the movies start from when a bird [End Page 142] Hiccups into a room no one wants, looks around,Cuckoos (hoping to hear itself—what the shit has Happened to it. & for believing?) but no one responds.That's how we know the man will be killed In the street, unarmed—how a man in a suitWith a fancy firearm will fall from the sky, Aims, shoots. The ambulance, late, always,Leaves another ghost wandering the freeway. My mother, bless her old bones. Doesn't wait for this sceneTo be over: she calls me into her room to check if I still have A heartbeat, pats my shoulders, says: live, please.Whenever I start praying the sky opens. I think something Beautiful will happen today for it takes a lot of misfortunesTo stay positive. Grandma tells me my bent hands are because Other spirit-kids felled me from the womb.Every day a bird keeps flying; no one knows who's aiming For a shot or why . . . maybe because gorgeousness is the sameAs the grave: only mystery tells you how deep to go to keep a body Beneath, dead, instead of flying. If a Grosbeak Doesn't Use Its Beak the Men Would Mistake It for a Vagina That was how the men came, in different sizes,Different nets, cages & weaponry. [End Page 143] That was how it started . . . the story,Never-ending, awkward. When the tanager went missingThe sparrow did nothing. When the flamingo drownedThe eagle started going closer to the sun. When the parrot was abductedThe owl chose to hoot only at night. When the net caught the weaverbirdThe drake chose the water as a home. That was how we knew whatever held theDove would never let it go. Whatever in front, unseen, was greater.The raven Choked on its meal. None of these matters to no one. It's no one's business.Now the trees are gone; water flows right back up, into oblivion. Like Every Good Boy I Look Forward to Meeting My (The)Rapist & suddenly yesterday I stopped being twenty.I am tired of being found alive...

Fouling Mitigation and Wastewater Treatment Enhancement through the Application of an Electro Moving Bed Membrane Bioreactor (eMB-MBR).

High operational cost due to membrane fouling propensity remains a major drawback for the widespread application of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. As a result, studies on membrane fouling mitigation through the application of integrated processes have been widely explored. In this work, the combined application of electrochemical processes and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology within an MBR at laboratory scale was performed by applying an intermittent voltage of 3 V/cm to a reactor filled with 30% carriers. The treatment efficiency of the electro moving bed membrane bioreactor (eMB-MBR) technology in terms of ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) and orthophosphate (PO4-P) removal significantly improved from 49.8% and 76.7% in the moving bed membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) control system to 55% and 98.7% in the eMB-MBR, respectively. Additionally, concentrations of known fouling precursors and membrane fouling rate were noticeably lower in the eMB-MBR system as compared to the control system. Hence, this study successfully demonstrated an innovative and effective technology (i.e., eMB-MBR) to improve MBR performance in terms of both conventional contaminant removal and fouling mitigation.