Impact of coagulant and flocculant addition to an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) treating waste-activated sludge

Journal Article (2017)
Author(s)

G. Kooijman (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

Wilton Silva Lopes (Bairro Universitario)

Zhongbo Zhou (Sun Yat-sen University)

H. Guo (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

MK Kreuk (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

H Spanjers (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

J. B. Van Lier (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Copyright
© 2017 G. Kooijman, Wilton Lopes, Z. Zhou, H. Guo, M.K. de Kreuk, H. Spanjers, J.B. van Lier
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes7020018
More Info
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Publication Year
2017
Language
English
Copyright
© 2017 G. Kooijman, Wilton Lopes, Z. Zhou, H. Guo, M.K. de Kreuk, H. Spanjers, J.B. van Lier
Related content
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Issue number
2
Volume number
7
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Abstract

In this work, we investigated the effects of flocculation aid (FA) addition to an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) (7 L, 35°C) treating waste-activated sludge (WAS). The experiment consisted of three distinct periods. In period 1 (day 1–86), the reactor was operated as a conventional anaerobic digester with a solids retention time (SRT) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 days. In period 2 (day 86–303), the HRT was lowered to 18 days with the application of a dynamic membrane while the SRT was kept the same. In period 3 (day 303–386), a cationic FA in combination with FeCl3 was added. The additions led to a lower viscosity, which was expected to lead to an increased digestion performance. However, the FAs caused irreversible binding of the substrate, lowering the volatile solids destruction from 32% in period 2 to 24% in period 3. An accumulation of small particulates was observed in the sludge, lowering the average particle size by 50%. These particulates likely caused pore blocking in the cake layer, doubling the trans-membrane pressure. The methanogenic consortia were unaffected. Dosing coagulants and flocculants into an AnDMBR treating sludge leads to a decreased cake layer permeability and decreased sludge degradation.