Treatment of domestic wastewater using pilot-scale membrane-aerated biofilm reactors for the removal of organics and nitrogen | |
| Author | Khin July Win Thant |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-22-06 |
| Subject(s) | Wastewater--Treatment Membrane reactors Water--Purification--Nitrogen removal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) is a novel technology providing the potential for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in the same reactor. In this study, a pilot scale MABR system modified with synthetic Granulated Nanoscale Oxyhydroxides of Iron (GNOF) was operated to enhance nitrogen removal from medium-strength domestic wastewater. Indeed, another pilot-scale one was operated to investigate the effects on the removal performance of organics and nitrogen varying along with HRTs. Unlike synthetically prepared wastewater, treating real wastewater is challenging due to the change in COD/N ratios. Two MHF-300 EPE polyethylene membranes were used in MABR systems and operated under different HRTs with and without GNOF media. Fe3+ reduction coupled to nitrification and simultaneous Fe2+ oxidation coupled to denitrification is vital in the nitrogen cycle. However, limited research has recently employed this phenomenon with the MABR system in wastewater treatment. During the operation without GNOF media, MABR 1 outperformed MABR 2. The optimal removal performance of the MABR 1 at 12 h of HRT was 89.3±1.1% of COD and 61.3±1.8% of NH4 + -N, and 52.5±2.1% of TN, respectively, before adding GNOF media. The COD removal efficiencies of these two MABRs prior to adding a GNOF media were quite similar, and the nitrification and denitrification efficiencies of MABR 1 were more remarkable than MABR 2 by 2.2-9.1% and 1.4-7.8% while operating without GNOF media at three HRTs of 12 h, 10 h, and 4 h. The integration of a GNOF reactor and MABR 1 had resulted in higher nitrification and denitrification efficiencies while not much affecting the COD removal performance. The highest of 80.9± 11.7% for COD, 74.3±3.1% for NH4 + -N, and 69.8± 2.1% for TN were achieved while operating MABR 1 at 12 h of HRT after adding GNOF media. It was proven that the GNOF media assisted in the simultaneous nitrification-denitrification and COD oxidation linked with the ferrous redox cycle. With the reduction of HRTs, the performance of MABR 2 declined. Furthermore, no considerable gap was detected when comparing the energy consumption and sludge yield between the two MABR systems before integrating with a GNOF reactor.” |
| Year | 2022 |
| 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 (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Visvanathan, Chettiyappan |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thammarat Koottatep;Cruz, Simon Guerrero |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Loom Nam Khong Pijai (Greater Mekong Subregion) Scholarships |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2022 |