Optimization of an External Nanofiltration Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Treating a High-Strength Starch-Based Wastewater
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 6
Abstract
Membrane and reactor performance for an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating a high-strength starch-based wastewater [average chemical oxygen demand (COD) of ] was examined under six varied cleaning protocols to find optimal operating conditions. The AnMBR was composed of a 1,000-L anaerobic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) integrated with an external, tubular nanofiltration membrane module operated in cross-flow mode. The polyvinylidene fluoride–based membrane module had a nominal pore size of 30 nm, a total membrane area of , and a cross-flow velocity of . The different cleaning protocols were provided by varying the membrane’s permeate backwash duration, frequency, and flow rate and by incorporating chemically enhanced backwash cycles with the use of a mixed 250-ppm sodium hydroxide and 250-ppm hypochlorite solution. Reactor performance did not appear to be cleaning protocol dependent; however, a decline in reactor-specific methanogenic activity (SMA) was noticed over the duration of the study. A single, longer-duration chemically enhanced backwash offered the highest improvement in membrane performance over all other cleaning protocols.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the following funding agencies and industrial collaboration: the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), and ADI Systems Inc. They would also like to thank Jonathan Dargavel and Dr. Dennis Connor for their help and contributions with data collection and testing throughout the duration of the study. Finally, the authors would like to thank Kyle Joudry for his help during the revision process.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 6 • June 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 1, 2017
Accepted: Nov 20, 2017
Published online: Mar 16, 2018
Published in print: Jun 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 16, 2018
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