Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors: the simple and sustainable way to process intensification and enhanced nitrification in existing wastewater treatment plants: PAPER & PRESENTATION
Coutts, D.1, Pitt, S.1, Cariell-Marquet, C.2, Vale, P.2, Martin, I.1, Murphy, M.1, Guglielmi, G.1,1Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, 2Severn Trent, UK
(free)
Wastewater treatment industry is facing challenges to treat the ever-growing wastewater load from increasing population and meet more stringent effluent discharge limits and minimize carbon footprint. UK water companies are focused on the 2030 net zero carbon goal, while also treating a higher load down to a more stringent ammonia effluent limit. Membrane aerated biofilm reactor technology (MABR) has been identified as valid option to maximize the existing infrastructures with a sustainable approach.
The MABR is a well-proven biofilm process which intensifies nutrient removal in the existing tanks by increasing the inventory of biomass. Furthermore, MABR improves nitrification process stability under challenging conditions (e.g. low temperatures) and peak loading events.
This work summarizes results from a full-scale trial operated at the Spernal facility since Oct 2020. The MABR (installed in just three days), was designed to achieve OTR, NR and OTE of 12 g-O2/m2/d, 2.2 g-N/m2/d and 32%, respectively, and has demonstrated an average of 13.8 g-O2/m2/d , 3.0 g-N/m2/d and 36%, with peaks up to 20.2 g-O2/m2/d, 4.4 g-N/m2/d and 60% respectively.
Keywords
enhanced nitrification, full-scale, Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR), process intensification, Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (OTE), Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR)
