Performance evaluation of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for pulp and paper wastewater treatment

Pulp and paper is among the industries that has high per capita water consumption which produces huge amount of wastewater. One of the promising method for pulp and paper wastewater (PPWW) treatment is the use of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. In this research, the performance of membrane bioreactor (MBR) was evaluated for PPWW treatment which consist of three stages: anaerobic, aerobic (supernatant) and membrane. The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity were measured during MBR process. Furthermore, the microbial population changes (MLSS) and the membrane blockage as an operational parameter in membrane bioreactor technology was investigated. The results showed that organic compounds (COD) and turbidity were efficiently removed through the new MBR process in the three sages: ۷۹% and ۸۵.۳% in the anaerobic stage, ۹۵% and ۹۶% in the supernatant and ۹۷% and ۹۹% in the final stage by the membrane, respectively. Based on the results, microbial population changes (MLSS) increased from ۶,۵۰۰ to ۱۵,۰۰۰ mg/L during the ۴۴ days of PPWT treatment process. The degree of membrane clogging at a constant flux of ۱.۵ LMH was measured by measuring the changes in pressure increase (TMP). Based on the results, the pressure increased from ۲۰ to ۹۶ kPa during ۴۴ days of PPWT wastewater treatment. These results may be due to the presence of more organic matter and suspended solids in the industrial effluent, which increase the pressure by covering the surface of the membrane.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pulp and paper ، Membrane bioreactor ، COD ، Wastewater treatment