Abstract
The relative efficiencies of three membrane materials for use in a submerged membrane bioreactor treating domestic wastewater were evaluated. A glass-filled hydrophobic polypropylene membrane allowed no flow through the membrane. A polysulphone membrane (PS, 0.4 mm pore size) did not achieve a steady-state flux although a flux of 7 l m−2h−1 occurred on the last day of the steady-state run. A melt-blown polypropylene membrane (NWPP, 5 μm pore size) gave a steady-state flux of 5 l m−2h−1. Membrane productivity was low due to irreversible fouling in the NWPP membrane and reversible fouling in the PS membrane. It was found that the PP membrane gave a 5-log reduction in total coliforms whereas the PS membrane gave a 9-log reduction. CBOD5, COD, SS, NH3-N and turbidity removal was similar with both the PS and the NWPP membranes. It was concluded that although the NWPP membrane was relatively inexpensive and achieved a high degree of organic matter removal, due to its inability to remove bacteria from the effluent it would be inappropriate to apply it to domestic wastewater in a submerged MBR.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 205-211 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Water Science and Technology |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |