@article {27301, title = {Treatment of municipal wastewater in AnMBRs with powdered activated carbon addition under psychrophilic temperatures}, journal = {Water Environment Research }, volume = {93}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

The performance of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) at psychrophilic temperatures commonly observed in temperate climates (10{\textendash}24{\textdegree}C) was assessed. A unique aspect of the research was operation at controlled SRT with regular membrane cleaning. COD removal and permeate VFA concentrations were similar at 15 and 24{\textdegree}C and deteriorated at 10{\textdegree}C. As temperature decreased, the COD mass flow to methane decreased and COD mass flows in the permeate and waste sludge increased. At 24{\textdegree}C, rapid membrane TMP increases were not observed while at 15 and 10{\textdegree}C rapid increases occurred at 11.7\ {\textpm}\ 0.46 and 7.6\ {\textpm}\ 0.45\ days, respectively, indicating a greater fouling propensity of the mixed liquor at lower temperatures. When the temperature was reduced from 15{\textdegree}C to 10{\textdegree}C in a transient test, CH4\ production was reduced and VFA concentrations increased. A 2{\textendash}3 SRT lag in the responses suggested that the delayed response was due to long-term changes in microbial population. The permeate VFA content in a PAC-dosed reactor was lower than that without PAC dosing, and PAC addition increased the time to rapid TMP development to 11.3\ {\textpm}\ 0.46\ days from 7.4\ {\textpm}\ 0.49\ days. The primary benefit of PAC addition at low temperatures is enhanced membrane performance.

Practitioner points

}, author = {Wayne Parker and Linda Li} }