The Strength and Weakness of 4-stage Anoxic

MBR for Biological Nutrient Removal

H. Lee*, G. H. Yun*, T. U. Yoo*, S. Kim*, J. K. Hwang**, W. Lee** and Z. Yun*
* Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University, Anam-dong, Sungbuk-ku, Seoul, South Korea, 136-701
(E-mail: lhs1351@korea.ac.kr;rmal9292@korea.ac.kr; ub1905ub@korea.ac.kr; envzyun@korea.ac.kr)
** Dongbu Corporation, 891-10, Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 135-523

 Influent sewage characteristics and operating conditions

 dPAO in BNR
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
Parameters
Nitrified recycle*: 2Q Nitrified recycle: 2Q Nitrified recycle: 1Q Nitrified recycle: 2Q

 Denitrification without carbon energy: NO3 as electron donor for

Anoxic recycle**: 1Q Anoxic recycle: 0.5Q Anoxic recycle: 0.5Q Anoxic recycle: 0.3Q
Operating days (d) 121 35 72 69
TSS (mg/L) 70~320 (135) 50~227 (108.5) 43~118 (72.2) 36~127 (91)
denitrification SS
VSS (mg/L) 68~280 (128) 53~227 (104) 35~122 (66.1) 30~108 (79.1)

 The use of dPAO is advantageous to weak sewage

TCOD (mg/L) 170～390 (284) 94~454 (242) 102.3~273 (201) 145~349 (255.8)
COD SCOD (mg/L) 40~128 (92.9) 59~115 (86.3) 54~168 (111.2) 61~140.8 (98.4)

 Microbial characteristics dPAO in BNR is still unclear  Further N

VFA (mg/L)
TN (mg/L) 23~50 (36.1) 25~38 (31.3)
17.0~58.2 (39.8)
25.5~38 (35.9) 27.5~34 (30.8)
NH4-N (mg/L) 12.9~29.2 (22.7) 13.2~24 (19.3) 13.8~26.6 (20.4) 7.5~26.4 (19.5)
scientific investigation is needed P
TP (mg/L) 2.7~5.5 (3.9) 2.8~4.0 (3.3) 1.6~5.1 (3.4) 3.5~5.8 (3.8)

 Role of dPAO in BNR-MBR modification was investigated in this PO4-P (mg/L)

SCOD/N/P ratio
1.8~4.4 (3.0)
23.8 : 9.3 : 1
1.2~3.0 (2.8)
26.2 : 9.5 : 1
0.5~3.8 (2.1)
32.7 : 10.6 : 1
1.4~4.3 (2.9)
25.9 : 8.1 : 1

research Influent flow rate (L/d)

MLSS Aerobic MBR 3,280~4,750 (3,940) 2,560~5,320 (4,050)
30
3,280~5,560 (3,870) 4,960~7,570 (5,560)
(mg TSS/L) Anoxic MBR 2,310~3,840 (3,330) 2,950~4,810 (3,850) 3,270~5,140 (4,180) 4,380~7,010 (5,784)
Aerobic MBR 8.9~37.5 (20.6) 5.2~53.8 (24.8) 15.8~32.5 (21.5) 18.5~68 (29.3)
SRT (d)
 Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) with Membrane Bio-reactor (MBR) *
Anoxic MBR
Recycle from Ox to 1st AX
9.4~37.5 (23.4) 12.5~40.8 (25.8) 10.5~35.8 (20.6) 20~56.8 (30.2)

 Membrane replaces the secondary clarifier to solve the sludge

** Recycle from 2nd AX to AN

Schematic diagrams of lab reactors

settling problems Submerged
Inf. (30 L/d): Step feed (AN : 2nd AX = 8:2)
 BNR-MBR is difficult to achieve high degree of N and P removal, 1.5 hr 1.5 hr 1.5 hr
membrane
3 hr

especially in weak sewage  low VFA, high MLSS and long SRT OX-
AN 1st AX 2nd AX Effluent
 To maximize the dPAO, examine the anoxic installation of MBR

RAS (0.3~1Q)
membrane in BNR-MBR modification RAS (1~2Q)
(a) Aerobic MBR
Inf. (30 L/d): Step feed (An : 2nd AX = 8:2)
 Research Objectives P Effluent

1.5 hr 1.5 hr 1.5 hr 3 hr

Evaluate the strength and weakness of laboratory 4-stage anoxic MBR AN 1st AX 2nd AX Ox

system compared with the aerobic MBR RAS (0.3~1Q)

RAS (1~2Q)
(b) Anoxic MBR (a) Aerobic MBR (b) Anoxic MBR

 Solids removal and sludge settling characteristics  Effluent water quality *Phase 1 (a), Phase 2 (b), Phase 3 (c), Phase 4 (d)

Influent VSS/TSS ratio = 0.85

Effluent TSS conc.  close to almost zero because of the membrane separation

500 6 OX sludge
TSS VSS SVI
Sample in aerobic MBR
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mL/g)
OX in aerobic MBR 2,920 2,380 79
OX sludge
COD & SS  Aerobic MBR ≈ Anoxic MBR
in % size

400 in anoxic MBR OX in anoxic MBR 2,850 2,300 106 2nd AX sludge
Settling surface (mL)

TN  Aerobic MBR (7.1 mg/L) < Anoxic MBR (5.2 mg/L)
2nd AX in anoxic MBR 2,950 2,350 104 in anoxic MBR
of particle

4
300
Mean diameter T P  Aerobic MBR (0.5 mg/L) > Anoxic MBR (0.9 mg/L)
Volume

2nd AX sludge
Sample
in anoxic MBR (μm)
Anoxic MBR could contribute to reduce DON conc. of effluent
% Volume

200 Aerobic MBR 150.8

2

 The effect on the recycle ratio

Anoxic MBR 94.7 *Nitrified recycle (a) and anoxic recycle (b) in anoxic
100 MBR, and nitrified recycle (c) and anoxic recycle (d) in
OX sludge
in aerobic MBR
anoxic MBR

0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Time (min) Particle Diameter (μm)
(a) Settling characteristics (b) Particle size distribution

Effect of sludge settling characteristics on

MBR was evaluated:
1) Sludge settleability
SVI value: Aerobic MBR (79 mL/g) > Anoxic
MBR (106 mL/g)
Initial settling velocity: OX sludge in aerobic
MBR > OX sludge in anoxic MBR
2) Particle size distribution
 Anoxic sludge tend to form smaller
particles (mean ø = 94.7 µm) than the oxic
sludge (mean ø = 150.8 µm)
3) Flux
 Aerobic MBR (36.9 L/m2/h) > Anoxic MBR
(29.9 L/m2/h)
 Membrane in anoxic zone showed lower
For both systems:
avg. flux
Nitrified recycle ratio   Effluent TN conc. 
Anoxic recycle ratio   Effluent TP conc. 

 The strengths of the anoxic MBR in BNR system

1. Lower TN concentration in effluent (The anoxic MBR: 5.2 mg/L vs. The aerobic MBR: 7.1 mg/L)
2. Effective carbon utilization (2.46 g SCOD/g N+P)
 The weaknesses of the anoxic MBR in BNR system
1. Relatively higher P concentration in effluent (The anoxic MBR: 0.9 mg/L vs. The aerobic MBR: 0.5 mg/L)
2. Lower sludge settleability with lower permeability of membrane