Floc size distribution and bacterial activities in membrane separation activated sludge processes for small-scale wastewater treatment/reclamation

Abstract

Activated sludges taken from full-scale membrane separation processes, building wastewater reuse system (400m3/d), and two nightsoil treatment plants (50m3/d) as well as laboratory scale membrane separation bioreactor (0.062m3/d) were analyzed to characterize membrane separation activated sludge processes (MSAS). They were also compared with conventional activated sludges(CAS) taken from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Specific nitrification activity in MSAS processes averaged at 2.28gNH4-N/kgMLSS.h were higher than that in CAS processes averaged at 0.96gNH4-N/kgMLSS.h. The denitrification activity in both processes were in the range of 0.62-3.2gNO3-N/kgMLSS.h without organic addition and in the range of 4.25-6.4gNO3-N/kgMLSS.h with organic addition. The organic removal activity in nightsoil treatment process averaged at 123gCOD/kgMLSS.h which was significantly higher than others. Floc size distributions were measured by particle sedimentation technique and image analysis technique. Flocs in MSAS processes changed their sizes with MLSS concentration changes and were concentrated at small sizes at low MLSS concentration, mostly less than 60 μm. On the contrary, floc sizes in CAS processes have not much changed with MLSS concentration changes and they were distributed in large range. In addition, the effects of floc size on specific nitrification rate, denitrification rate with and without organic carbon addition were investigated. Specific nitrification rate was decreased as floc size increased. However, little effect of floc size on denitrification activity was observed.