Affiliation:
1. Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
2. Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Abstract
In pursuit of sustainability, we explored replacing conventional dissolved air floatation (DAF) in poultry processing wastewater (PPW) treatment with a precisely tuned 0.02 µm stainless-steel ultrafiltration (SSUF) membrane. SSUF is a robust, homogenously porous membrane with strong chemical resistance, ease of cleaning, and exceptional resistance to organic fouling. Unlike polymeric membranes, it can be regenerated multiple times, making it a cost-effective choice due to its compatibility with harsh chemical cleaning. The PPW used for the study was untreated wastewater from all processing units and post-initial screening. Our study revealed the SSUF membrane’s exceptional efficiency at eliminating contaminants. It achieved an impressive removal rate of up to 99.9% for total suspended solids (TSS), oil, grease, E. coli, and coliform. Additionally, it displayed a notable reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), up to 90%, 76%, and 76%, respectively. Our investigation further emphasized the SSUF membrane’s ability in pathogen removal, affirming its capacity to effectively eradicate up to 99.99% of E. coli and coliform. The measured critical flux of the membrane was 48 Lm−2h−1 at 38 kPa pressure and 1.90 m/s cross-flow velocity. In summary, our study highlights the considerable potential of the SSUF membrane. Its robust performance treating PPW offers a promising avenue for reducing its environmental impact and advocating for sustainable wastewater management practices.
Funder
National Science Foundation (NSF), Industry and University Cooperative Research Center for Membrane, Science Engineering and Technology through NSF
Tyson Foods and the University of Arkansas
Subject
Filtration and Separation,Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous),Process Chemistry and Technology
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