Experimental investigation of organics and nitrogen removal using membrane aerated biofilm reactors for domestic wastewater treatment | |
| Author | Paradorn Akkakarn |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-18-21 |
| Subject(s) | Sewage--Purification--Fixed-film biological process Wastewater--Treatment |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-18-21 |
| Abstract | This study investigates the use of advanced wastewater treatment process called Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors ( MABRs ) in which two membrane modules having different characteristics; one of them being poly dimethyl siloxane ( PDMS ) as a dense membrane, and another type being multi - layer hollow fiber ( MHF ) 200TL as a composite membrane are compared for their performance . Both membrane modules were analyzed on their efficiencies on oxygen transfer rates ( OTRs ) and removal perfor mance . OTRs were compared for the membranes in two modes : dead - end and cross - flow using normal air and pure oxygen under varying pressures of 5 to 50 kPa . At 20 kPa, the highest OTR values of MHF 200 TL and PDMS modules were recorded as 26 . 65 and 33 . 29 g O 2 / m 2 - day , respectively , when supplied with pure oxygen . Likewise, organics and nitrogen removal performance were studied for two membranes using a synthetic feed water of composition 160 mg / L COD and 40 mg / L NH 4 + - N comparable to domestic wastewater with v arying HRT of 8 h and 12 h . The highest COD removal performance of PDMS and MHF 200 TL reactor was recorded as 95 % and 91 % , respectively, in 12 h HRT while for NH 4 + - N, the highest removal for PDMS and MHF membrane was found to be 87 % and 52 % , respectively . Thus, this research concluded that although composite membranes are theoretically better performers than dense membranes, during their operation in cross - flow mode, the OTR values depend on the lumen dimension, too . A larger lumen diameter can hold a hi gh amount of gas, resulting in greater OTRs . Similarly, for better organics and nitrogen removal performance, biofilm attachment and growth on membrane surface plays an important role . According to the results, the spiral shape of PDMS membrane fibers assi sted in biomass attachment and biofilm formation thereby causing higher nitrification and denitrification processes than MHF 200 TL membranes . Finally, this research concluded that high OTRs and biofilm attachment of hollow fiber membranes could lead to hi gh COD and NH 4 - N removal efficiencies . |
| Year | 2018 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. EV-18-21 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Visvanathan, Chettiyappan; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Anal, Anil Kumar;Ekbordin Winijkul; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2018 |