Influence of Supersaturated Oxygen Transfer Technology on Membrane Fouling and Azithromycin Removal in a Membrane Bioreactor

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Influence of Supersaturated Oxygen Transfer Technology on Membrane Fouling and Azithromycin Removal in a Membrane Bioreactor Influence of supersaturated oxygen transfer technology on membrane fouling and azithromycin removal in a membrane bioreactor Giovanna Guarinoni Ardito MSc Thesis UWS-SE CALI 2016-11 April 2016 Influence of supersaturated oxygen transfer technology on membrane fouling and azithromycin removal in a membrane bioreactor Master of Science Thesis by Giovanna Guarinoni Ardito Supervisor Prof. Carlos Madera, PhD, Msc (Univalle University) Mentors Tineke Hooijmans, PhD, Msc (UNESCO-IHE) Hector García Hernández, PhD, MSc (UNESCO-IHE) Marin Matošić, PhD, MSc (University of Zagreb) This research is done for the partial fulfilment of requirements for the Master of Science double degree at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands and Univalle University, Cali, Colombia. Delft April 2016 Although the author, Univalle and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education have made every effort to ensure that the information in this thesis was correct at press time, the author and UNESCO-IHE do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. © Giovanna Guarinoni Ardito 2016. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Introduction 1 Introduction 2 Abstract Conventional aeration systems as fine and coarse bubble diffusers present low oxygen transfer efficiency at high MLSS concentrations. At these conditions, the use of the SDOX unit has been proven to have better oxygen transfer efficiency, reducing costs related to energy for providing aeration (Bilal, 2013). Moreover, current design for wastewater treatment plants does not consider the removal of micro-pollutants. Membrane bioreactors have been applied successfully to achieve higher and more consistent micro-pollutant removal. This technology is facing some research and development challenges. Among these challenges, membrane fouling is one of the most serious problems. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of SDOX over: biological processes, sludge characteristics, azithromycin removal and membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor. Five experiments were carried out changing some operational conditions. Each experiment consisted in the operation of a continuously fed MBR supplying oxygen with two different technologies. In first instance with bubble diffusers aerators distinguishing two phases: acclimatization (for eventual initial shocks) and operation. Secondly it was operated using SDOX unit, where also two phases took placed. The effect of SDOX on sludge characteristics was pronounce for all the experiments. The particle size decreased (44-64) %, while the DSVI increased. It is interesting to notice that the EPSc measured presented the highest values for Experiments 2 and 3. Moreover, for these experiments the difference in operational conditions(HRT) seems to have a bigger impact in sludge characteristics than SDOX. Regarding the effect of SDOX over azithromycin removal efficiency, it was proven that it affected negatively the overall removal efficiency of azithromycin. For both experiments a drop was observed after its connection. Finally, the effect of SDOX over membrane fouling needs to be analyzed in two phases. For effluents which do not contain azithromycin, no incidence of SDOX over membrane fouling was found. Thus, in view of it possible application, more research is needed to evaluate the fouling due to cake decreasing the shear rate. In contrast, for effluents spiked with azithromycin a higher deterioration of the membrane was caused by the operation of the membrane with SDOX as the aeration technology. Introduction 3 Acknowledgements I would like to extend my gratitude to ANII and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for granting me the opportunity to do my master studies. I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Prof. Carlos Madera and my mentors: Dr. Marin Matošić, Prof. Tineke Hooijmans, Dr. Héctor García for their guidance and valuable comments during my research. I would like to thanks Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Laboratory for Analysys and Biogeochemistry of Organic Compounds, for their collaboration and technical support. My special thanks for the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology of Zagreb, the entire third floor and the Water Technology Laboratory staff: Vlado, Josip, Sangyeob and Marin. Thanks for the patience, the knowledge, the time and the affection. I would also like to thanks to the staff of Biotechnology of Flavor Research, Udelar. My special thanks to Laura for the encouragement, and the support. In addition, I would like to thanks my family and friends from Uruguay. For making me feel loved all these 21 months besides the distances. Finally, I would like to thanks all my new friends from Colombia and Delft. Specially Cecilia, Analia, Pablo, Guillermo, Nicolas and Rodrigo. For all the shared moments that I will never forget. Introduction 4 Introduction 5 Abbreviations AE Aeration efficiency AZI Azithromycin AZI-TP Azithromycin transformation product CAS Conventional activated sludge BD Bubble diffuser COD Biochemical oxygen demand DO Dissolved oxygen DSVI Diluted sludge volumetric index EPSc Extracellular polymeric substances carbohydrate fraction EPSp Extracellular polymeric substances protein fraction HTR Hydraulic retention time J Flux K Permeability MBR Membrane bioreactor MLSS Mixed liquor suspended solid MLVSS Mixed liquor volatile suspended solid OTR Oxygen transfer rate OUR Oxygen uptake rate PLC Programmable logic controller QTOFMS Quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry SDOX Supersaturated dissolved oxygen SMP Soluble microbial products SRT Sludge retention time TMP Transmembrane pressure TSS Total suspended solid UHPLC Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography VSS Volatile suspended solid WWTP Wastewater treatment plant Introduction 6 Table of Contents 1. Abstract 3 2. Acknowledgements 4 3. Abbreviations 6 4. Table of Contents 7 5. List of Figures 9 6. List of Tables 11 7. Introduction 12 1.1. Background 12 1.2. Problem definition 13 1.3. Research Questions 13 8. Research Objectives 14 2.1. Main objective 14 2.2. Specific objectives 14 9. Literature Review 15 3.1. Membrane bioreactors 15 3.2. Membrane fouling 16 3.2.1. Extracellular polymeric substances 17 3.3. Transmembrane pressure and permeability 17 3.4. Aeration technologies 18 3.4.1. Coarse-bubble aerators 19 3.4.2. Fine-bubble systems 19 3.4.3. SDOx technology 20 3.5. Emergent contaminants 21 3.5.1. Pharmaceuticals 21 3.5.2. Azithromycin 21 10. Experimental Approach 23 4.1. Experiments 23 4.2. MBR Layout 24 4.3. Procedure 25 4.4. Membrane bioreactor 26 4.5. SDOX unit 27 4.6. Media 28 Solution A. Organics source 28 Solution B. Inorganics nutrients and trace elements source 28 Solution C. Azithromycin 29 4.7. Sludge thickening 29 Introduction 7 4.8. COD, Total Suspended Solids 30 4.9. Nitrate, ammonia and phosphate 30 4.10. Sludge Volume Index 31 4.10.1. Diluted Sludge Volume Index 31 4.11. Particle Size Distribution 32 4.12. Extracellular polymeric substances 33 4.13. Azithromycin measurement 34 4.14. TMP and permeability 36 11. Results and discussion 37 5.1. Influence of SDOX on biological processes 37 5.2. Influence of SDOX in sludge characteristics 47 5.3. Influence of SDOX on azithromycin removal 52 5.4. Influence of SDOX on membrane fouling 56 12. Conclusions 65 13. References 66 14. Appendices 68 Introduction 8 List of Figures Figure 3-1 (a) Above: CAS (b) Under: MBR systems. ....................................................................................... 15 Figure 3-2 MBR with SDOx unit ...................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 3-3 Azithromycin ................................................................................................................................. 22 Figure 4-1 System layout of MBR with conventional aerators. ....................................................................... 24 Figure 4-2 System layout of MBR with SDOx system. ..................................................................................... 24 Figure 4-3 Experimental phases...................................................................................................................... 25 Figure 4-4 MBR and SDOX unit. ...................................................................................................................... 27 Figure 4-5 Sludge concentration. .................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 4-6 DSVI test. ....................................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 4-7 Mastersizer 2000. .......................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 4-8 Proposed method for EPS and SMP extractions and measurements. ............................................. 33 Figure 4-9 EPSc quantification. ....................................................................................................................... 34 Figure 4-10 Influent, effluent, supernatant and sludge samples. ................................................................... 35 Figure 4-11 UHPLC-QTOF MS .........................................................................................................................
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