Low dose powdered activated carbon addition at high sludge retention times to reduce fouling in membrane bioreactors
- Authors
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Source
- Wageningen University and Researchcenter Publications
- Keywords
- Language
- English
- License
- Unknown
- External links
Abstract
The addition of a low concentration of PAC (0.5 g L-1 of sludge, i.e. a dose of 4 mg L-1 of wastewater), in combination with a relatively long SRT (50 days), to improve membrane filtration performance was investigated in two pilot-scale MBRs treating real municipal wastewater. Continuous filterability tests at high flux showed the possibility to run for 18 h at 72 L m-2 h-1 and 180 h at 50 L m-2 h-1, while significant fouling occurred without PAC. In addition, measurements of the critical flux showed an increase of 10% for this strategy. Low dosage and high retention time makes it feasible and cost effective. Further advantages with regard to permeate quality and possible micropollutants removal are currently under investigation.
