George V. Crawford

Critical Review on the Effects of Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids on Membrane Bioreactor Operation

Abstract One of the characteristics of MBRs is that they typically operate with higher mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration than activated sludge with a conventional settling tank. While higher MLSS has obvious benefits in terms of increasing the volumetric loading or the solids retention time, it can have negative impacts on system operation and economics. We critically evaluate three hypotheses on how high MLSS may adversely affect MBR operation: (1) reduced membrane flux with high MLSS, (2) decreased aeration alpha (α) value with high MLSS, and (3) poorer thickening characteristics of excess sludge wasted from an MBR based on the Sludge Volume Index (SVI) and the Capillary Suction Time (CST). The results support the first and second hypotheses, but not the third. Increasing MLSS decreases the critical permeate flux, but the effect is strong only for MLSS<∼5 g/L. For the typical MLSS zone (>∼5 g/L), flux‐management techniques to prevent serious cake formation are more important than MLSS. The aeration α decreases with increasing MLSS concentration, although the strength of the correlation depends on system‐specific factors that are poorly understood. Thickening properties of IMBR sludge are not significantly poorer than those of traditional activated sludge, based on available CST tests.

Full-scale assessment of the nutrient removal capabilities of membrane bioreactors.

Operating results from two full-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs) practicing biological and chemical phosphorus and biological nitrogen removal to meet stringent effluent nutrient limits are analyzed. Full-scale results and special studies conducted at these facilities resulted in the development of guidelines for the design of MBRs to achieve stringent effluent nutrient concentrations--as low as 0.05 mg/L total phosphorus and 3 mg/L total nitrogen. These guidelines include the following: (1) direct the membrane recirculation flow to the aerobic zone, (2) provide intense mixing at the inlets of the anaerobic and anoxic zones, (3) maintain internal recirculation flowrates to maintain the desired mixed liquor suspended solids distribution, and (4) carefully control supplemental metal salt addition in proportion to the phosphorus remaining after biological removal is complete. Staging the various process zones and providing effective dissolved oxygen control also enhances nutrient removal performance. The results demonstrated that process performance can be characterized by the International Water Association (London, United Kingdom) (IWA) activated sludge model number 2d (ASM2d) and the Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Virginia) chemical phosphorus removal model. These models subsequently were used to develop unique process configurations that are currently under design and/or construction for several full-scale nutrient removal MBRs.