eXenoTM: new operational strategy of MBBR to remove pharmaceuticals in municipal WWTP effluents: PRESENTATION ONLY
Torresi, E.1, Jeal, W.2, Sund, C.3, Anderson, H.R.4, Tang, K.4, Nussbaum, B.1, Gade Anderson, H.3 and Christensson, M.1, 1Veolia Water Technologies, Sweden, 2Veolia Water Technologies, UK, 3Krüger A / S, Denmark, 4Technical University of Denmark
(free)
The presence of micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and other emerging pollutants in effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) can compromise the reliability of reused water, by contaminating important aquatic compartments such as surface water, groundwater and eventually drinking water. Solutions to improve the removal of those pollutants in conventional WWTP are currently investigated in several countries in Europe, possibly due to the upcoming regulation. In this study, a sustainable biological solution based on Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors, MBBRs, (eXenoTM from Veolia Water Technologies) is presented for tertiary treatment of pharmaceuticals and other pollutants in wastewater effluent of municipal WWTP. Based on a newly patented operational strategy of MBBR, the technology was firstly tested in bench-scale in a Danish WWTP and subsequently in two pilot scales (HEPWAT and Mereff project, DK). The new operation consisted of intermittently feeding a sidestream MBBR with inlet wastewater to ensure sufficient biomass growth, while micropollutants and nitrogen were removed in the main two steps-MBBR line, treating effluent wastewater. Results from the bench and pilot scale trials treating municipal wastewater effluent showed between 50-80 % of biological removal of several targeted pharmaceuticals at two hours HRT. Additionally, tertiary removal of carbon and nitrogen was achieved.
Keywords: water recycling; MBBR; pharmaceuticals; nitrogen removal; diclofenac
