Waf. Sci. Tech. Vol. 23. Kyoto. pp. 1591-1600. 1991.

Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved.

0273-1223/91 $000

50

Copyright 1990 IAWPRC

MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR ON

DOMESTIC WASTEWATER

TREATMENT SLUDGE PRODUCTION

AND MODELING APPROACH

S. Chaize and A. Huyard

Laboratoire Central Societe Lyonnaise des Eaux, 38, Rue du President

Wilson, 78230 Le Pecq, France

ABSTRACT
The membrane bioreactor, with an increase of biomass concentration in the aeration tank,
permdt work with low F/M ratio and a reduction in s ludge production. The membrane bioreactor
potentialities have been tested on a laboratory pilo t for domestic wastewater treatment.
Various operating conditions (HRT, SRT) were applied to investigate organic and nitrogen
removal as well as sludge production.
Two modeling approaches were tested (maintenance phenomena, single sludge simulation process)
with unsuccessful1 predictions. Futher investigations are needed to better understand
biological kinetics and phenomena in membrane bioreactor and to obtain higher flux on membrane
processes.

KEYWORDS
wastewater treatment; activated sludge; membrane separation; s ludge production; maintenance.
INTRODUCTION
Conventional biological processes for wastewater treatment use biomass recycling to increase
the microorganism concentration in the aeration tank, and therefore the degradation rate of
organic and nitrogen compounds. Membrane separation techniques have been applied for biomass
recycling in biotechnology (Strathman, 198 5) and in wastewater treatment. Application of
membrane separation to anaerobic digestion was investigated to trea t dairy effluents (000 > 30
g. 1-1 ) (Li et al., 198 5) and domestic wastewater (Grethlein, 1978) . Combination of biological
treatment activated sludge with u ltrafiltration was first
reported by Smith et al.
(1969). The combined process is free from the limitation imposed by the settling tank used-rn
conventional activated sludge process.
Higher biomass concentrations may be used
without
bulking phenomenon problems and no effect of varied
loadings on treatment efficiency. In
Japan, this process was developed for domestic wastewater (Audic et al., 1986), and "in situ"
reclamation in large buildings (Kanayama et al., 1987 ; Arika et aI.:-I977). This process--Is
not cost effective and its application is-lImIted. The high power-consumption is due to the
recirculation pump . Yamamoto et al. (1989) have tested the direct solid-liquid separation
using hollow fiber membrane, out aoalance between surface area and cost, and energy input
has to be made. To predict membrane flux, Fane et al. (1980) developed a computer model of a
combined ultrafiltration and activated s ludge --wastewater treatment system. Regarding the
membrane aspect, the major resistance to flux is provided by the suspended solids. Goma et al.
(1986) and Bouillot et al. (1989) have investigated the biological reactors in a membrane
reactor treating syntnetICdomestic wastewater, incorporating the maintenance "concept". This
paper describes investigations on the effect of SRT and HRT on mbrane bioreactor
potentialities. Sludge production and steady state suspended solids concentration have been
studied. Two biological models for wastewater treatment were tested to evaluate the
performance of membrane._ bioreactor.

159 1

1592

s. CHAIZE and A. HUYARD

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Laboratory pilot plant

The pilot plant, shown in Fiqure I,
is composed of a completly mixed biological reactor
connected to an ultrafiltration module. The concentrate from the ultrafiltration loop was
returned to the tank.

Domesti
c
wastewater

effluent
DDS {tratlonl
I
Treated

Excess permeate

Retentate

1ii

r--

I]

LJ

Fig. 1.
a 4. 5 1

frll

t!:!J

/Reactor J

The reactor (Biolafitte) had

reduce foaming problems.

gH

J Heat exchanger L

Pump

Experimental Set-up

working volume and was

The temperature was maintained at 20C, the air flow rate

was between 800 - 1200 rpm.

was

equipped with a draft tube

80 1

to

h -1 and the mixing speed

The feed supply was regulated by a level regulation in the reactor. The ultrafiltration
module, (De Danske SUkker-fabriker) was a plate and frame module, with four plates in a serial
design, equipped with polysulphone (GR 51PP) and cellulose membrane (ETNA) during run 1 and 2
respectively. Membrane cut-off was around 50 000 d, linear velocity along the membrane was
1. 5 m S-1 and transmembrane pressure was in a range of 1 to 2 bars. The ultrafiltration module
had a surface area of 0.42 m'. The additional loop shown in Figure 1 was used to test the
effect of inverse flow in the ultrafiltration module to prevent membrane clogging during run
1. During all the experiments, excess permeate was returned to the biological reactor.
The laboratory pilot plant had
8 1 total volume. Hydraulic and sludge retention times were
calculated from this total volume. Experimental conditions, for the different run, are
summarized on Table 1.
TABLE 1

Pilot Plant Operating Conditions

PERIOD

HRT

SRT

Run r

o - rliOth

II Fi

roo a

Run 2

o - 28th
28 - 128th
128 - 17 5th
1 7 5 - 190th

8
4
2
2

100
100
50
100

h
h
h
h

d
d
d
d

Analytical methods
SUspended solids were obtained by membrane filtration (Millipore AP 20) or centrifugation and
drying 24 h at llOe. The organic fraction of the suspended solids (MLVSS) were determined
after drying at 5 50C. Kjeldahl nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were measured
according to French Standard Methods AFNOR T 90-1 10 and T 90-103. The total organic carbon was
measured in an infrared analyser Tocamaster 9 1 5-B (Beckman).

1593

Domestic wastewater treatment sludge production

After dilution, nitrogen compounds (NH4 , N0 2 ,N03 ) were determined according to the
measurements, drazotation method using colorimetric
Method T 90-013. For NO - NO
and optical density meas ftremen i to 520 nm was made on an autoanalyser (Technicon).

Standard
reaction

Proteins were measured with the Lowry technique (LOWry et al., 1951) and polysaccharides with
the anthrone method (Dubois et al., 19 56). Microorganisms activity was evaluated by
measurement of oxygen consumption mth a respirometer (YSI Model S3 oxygen monitor) and
dehydrogenase activity with INT method (Trevors et al., 1982).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The pilot plant has
run with two operating conditions ; run 1 with a. hydraulic retention
time of 8 h and a sludge retention time of 100 days and run 2 with different values of these
two parameters.
Run 1 with 8 h HRT and 100 days SRT.

The bioreactor was naturally seeded with the microorganisms present in the raw water.
Suspended solid concentrations from the raw water varied from 0. 5 g/l to 0.3 5 gil. Biomass
concentration in the bioreactor and theoretical accumulation of the suspended solids coming
from raw water (see S biomass steady states concentration
) were plotted in Figure 2. After
25 days, the biomass concentration reached a pseudo steady state. Figure 3 shows the TOC
removal efficiency of the bioreactor. The bioreactor efficiency was maximum from the
beginning.In spite of the variations of TOC or COD 9ncentrations in the raw water, the TOC
permeate concentration remained stable at 15 mg 1
This carbon corresponds to organic
compounds with a low molecular weight (inferior to the membrane cut-off), non-degradable by
the microorganisms contained in the bioreactor.

Total nitrification was observed in the operating conditions (SRT, HRT) applied to the
bior,ctor. In the raw water, the nitrogen compounds concentration varied little(NTK - 100
mg.l ). Figure 4 shows the variations of the permeate nitrogen compounds. Nitrification began
after 14 days. The nitrogen organic compounds such as proteins are degraded. The N-NTK
permeate concentration indicated that
part of the effluent TOC
originated from these non
biodegradable compounds. Table 2 summarize the results obtained during run 1.
LE 2

Performance

of the pilot plant

Raw water

Suspended solids mg 1

-1

000 particulate soluble mg 1

-1

200 - 400

Treated water

--- --------------

2 50 - 550

<

30

35 - 80

<

20

Proteins

10 - 12

<

N -

60 -1 50

<

10

<

0. 5

TOC soluble mg 1

-1

NTK

N - NH

Biomass concentration

40 - 80
8 - 10 g 1

-1
-3

-=1

Volumetric load

0.4 5-1. 5 kg 000 m

Massic specific load ( FjM)

0.06-0.10 kg COD kg
SS d
-1
-1
SS d
0. 14 kg O2 kg

O2 consumption (respirometry)

d
-1

-1

1594

s. CHAIZE and A. HUYARD

'0
CI>

'"
:;
E
:J
u
u

'"
'"

50
200

;g

150

CI> Cl
'0 c
CI>
a.

100

"' ...
'O.!.:
'"
:J

fJ)

50

2'"
;;:
;;:
'"

....

20 -------
-- Suspended solids
....... Suspended solids accumulated
16

0,
'"
12
"0
'"

'0
CI>
'0
C
CI>
a.

'"

. .
..

:J
en

(lo

a:

. . ' .

.
.. .... .

..

. ..
.. .

40

..

, ... .
.

...
..... .

.
...

..
...

. ..
...

'

120

80

160

200

Time (days)

Fig. 2.

Biomass evolution (Run 1)

200 r------

Raw water rOe

Treated water TOe

160

0,
E

120

()
o
I-

:.I-J.:_.._ ..:.... _.......i............ ..... ...'- ....

0____-4________________
o
40
80
120
160
200
Time (days)

Fig. 3.

TOe removal (Run 1)

140 -------,

0,
E
C'l
o
z
<"II
o
z
..,.
J:
Z

20

. ..
. .i
.
f /_
A
. . ____
A
. __
.. _
o
.
o
80
160
200
40
120
Time (days)

Fig. 4.

N-Compounds in treated water

Domestic wastewater treatment sludge production

1595

Run 2 with HRT And SRT Changes

During the second part of the experiment the HRT varied from 8 h to 2 h and the SRT from 100
to 50 days, in order to study the steady state biomass concentrations at the different
operating conditions. Some problems on pilot operation have caused a loss of biomass (day
97 ). Figure 5 shows the variations of the biomass concentration in the bioreactor and the
accumulation of the suspended solids from raw water ; all the events on pilot operation are
reported in Figure 5.

E!

HRT
SRT
40

300

'C

..
Oi
:;
E
:::J
...
...

240

...
.
en

180

:!:!
'0

II)

01
1/1

:!:!
'0

II)
'C

..

8
100

2
50

100

1ojhours
days

100

- Suspended solids
...... Suspended solids accumulated

32

24

II)

'C

..

120

'C
C

16

..

'C
c

60

a.
1/1
:::J
II)

..

a.
1/1
:::J
II)

8
0

40

80

120

160

200

Time (days)

Biomass evolution (run 2) with different SRT and HRT

Fig. 5.

The biomass concentration increased slowly in the bioreactor (before day 30 ). During this
period a decrease of the membrane permeability was observed (see Figure 10). The influent and
effluent TOe concentrations are plotted in Figure 6.
160

...
.
en
u

TOe treated water

- TOe raw water

._

120

80

I-

40

40

80

120

, 160

200

Time (days)

Fig. 6.

TOe removal (Run 2)

The TOe average concJiltration in the raw water was lower than in previous experiments (TOe
average
0.034 g.l ). Changes in operating conditions (SRT or HRT) had no effect on the
water quality produced (carboneous removal only). Some differences were observed on the
soluble part of the liquor circulating in the bioreactor. TOe, protein and polysaccharide
Figure 7.
(total sugars) concentrations are shown in
=

S. CHAIZE and A. HUYARD

1596

Time

Fig. 7.

(days)

TOe, proteins, polysaccharides on liquor supernatant in reactor

At the beginning, TOe

accumulated on the bioreactor. with the increase
of biomass
concentration, this TOe was degraded. When HRT changed, the TOe, protein and polysaccharide
concentrations increased. This accumulation can be explained by the accumulation of either the
bacterial products (lysies orland excretion) or the raw water components. This phenomenon
became under limitation on soluble substrate. No correlation was found between variations in
TOe concentrations and the accumulation of such compounds in bioreactor liquor. With different
operating conditions, several authors (Yamamoto et al. (1989) ; Bouillot et al. (1989
have
reported this accumulation phenomenon. Changes in-operating conditions disturoed the removal
of nitrogen compounds. These variations are depicted in Figure 8.

..
CI

III
"0
c:

o
0.

o
u
c:
G>
CI

140 r------,
...... NH4
120
N02
- -- N03

100
80
60

..:\;
.

40

Z
Time

Fig. 8.

(days)

N-compounds in treated water (Run 2)

After an adaptation time, the removal of nitrogen compounds was

With an HRT of 2 h, the bioreactor worked with :
- a volumetric load

VL COD
VL NH

- a massic load (F/M)

Measurements of dehydrogenase
plotted on Figure 9.

COD
NH4

activity ( INT

5.04

maximum for each HRT studied.

kg COD

m
-3

-3

0.96

kg

0. 13

kg COD kg

0.026 kg N kg

activity)

N m

and O2

-1

-1

-1

-1

-1

-1

specific

consumption

are

1597

Domestic wastewater treatment sludge production

>;-

en

(/)

&. 12
E

ci

2i='

'?:
>

'"
'"'"

c
CI)
01
0

-0

>.t:
CI)
0

, 01
(/)

--

0.5

.2

0.2 ;

'"

..

'0

[}j
CI)

(;

. .

'

: l::
.

fl

.0.

,:.

; .'

!=:

./ .

0.1

...

i i

:l

consumption
.
activity

!\ ' f
.
::
L .f:..; :: :
.... : :. . ;':.:= .. :;.:
:f ....
-. .
'.'''' : .i!_.:: :! '!
.
::: :l:.."

E 0.4
N
0
E 0.3

02

INT

01

<>

CI)

.
(/)

.. i

.....
..
O-------------L------________L-____

80

40

120

Time (days)

160

200

0, comsumption and INT activity (Run 2)

Fig. 9.

These two activities are a good indicator of the active fraction of the biomass. During the
"growth" phase of this biomass, values for these parameters were higher than during steady
state. At the beginning, the biomass active fraction w as high.As the biomass aged, the specific
activities decreased, which can be explained by the decrease of the ratio of active/inactive
fraction of the biomass. The active fraction became only a small fraction of suspended solids
in the bioreactor.
Biomass steady state concentrations

and sludge production

Figures 2 and 5 report the biomass concentration in the reactor and the theorical accumulation
of suspended solids from the raw water
the calculation is the daily accumulation of
suspended solids.
SSac

E ([inf SS conc.) x 24jHRT) - wastage

TOe

The biomass generated by the removal of soluble

was not taken . into account. The
difference between theoretical and experimental suspended solids concentrations s mainly due
to the conversion of organic matter into biomass and CO,.
The model developed by the IAWPRC task group (Henze et a1. 1986). on mathematical modeling for
design and operation of biological wastewater treatment was used to evaluate the performance
of the membrane bioreactor. Operating conditions and results of simulation are reported in
Table 3.

run

The kinetics parameters were those proposed by the IAWPRC task group. Feed characteristics used
for the simulation are an average of the raw water characteristics during
2. The predicted
effluent COD of 0.002 g 1 '1 is slightly lower than experimental value 0.030 g 1 -1), whereas
the predicted
effluent concentration was very close to the experimental value.

NTK

The major disagreement between modeling and experimental approach is on biomass concentration
(suspended solids). Whereas the modeling approach predicted MLVSS concentration of 16 and 6 5
g 1 -1, for a n HR T o f 8 and 2 h respectively, the S S experimental values were around 1 0
36
g 1 -I (MLVSS
7 5 % of suspended solids concentration). This difference can be explained by
the large SRT (100 days) and the low HRT used in the experiment. Indeed the IAWPRC model,
which was valid
with results from typical activated sludge plant, does not incorporate
maintenance phenomena, important for processes w i
a low F/M ratio.

and

th

The maintenance concept was introduced by Pirt (196 5). It expressed the energy consumption
necessary for the endogeneous respiration of the microorganisms. The observed yield (Yobs) and
the specific growth rate (p) are related by the following equation
l/Y
obs
where

ms

is the

maintenance coefficient

l/Y
lim

and Y

lim

m /p
s

the maximum yield

in batch

experiments.

s. CHAIZE and A. HUY ARD

1598

TABLE 3

Results From Simulation with IAWPRC Model

HRT*
SRT*

COMPOUNDS
mg 1-1

CHARACTERISTICS
8 h
2 h
100 d
100 d

FEED

------

Heterotrophic organisms

1. 743

6.982

0. 0

Autotrophic organisms

0.189

0. 761

0.0

Particulate products

8. 81 5

3 5.273

0.0

Inert particulate
9 COD 1-1

5.2 50

21.000

0.03 5

Organics Particulate

0.146

0. 58 5

0.226

Soluble organics
9 COD . l - l

0.002

0.002

0.193

Soluble ammonia N

0.0003

0.0003

0.059

Soluble nitrate/
nitrite N 9 N 1-1

0.068

0.068

0.001

Soluble organics N

0.0004

0.0004

0.006 5

Biodeg. particulate
organics N 9 N 1-1

0.045

0. 045

0.009 5

4.0

4.0

16.145

64.6

9 COD 1-1

9 COD 1-1

9 COD 1-1

9 COD 1-1

9 N 1-1

9 N 1 -1

OXygen

mg O2 1-1

MLV5S

9 COD 1-1

9. 0

* Calculated on aeration tank for modeling simulation

Bouillot et al. (1989) using a soluble synthetic substrate have demonstrated the validity of
this conceptr membrane bioreactor application. The steady state biomass concentration (X)
is given in the equation below :
(1)
X -

+ 1Ils

Ylim
with Dh - l/HRT and Dp
l/SRT. Using synthetic
domestic wastewater and the strain
Pseudomonas fluorescens, a maintenance oefficient and a growth yield were determined :
- 0.56 g.Ss.g.- COD
Ills - 0.035 h-i arid Y
lim

During run 1 and run 2, steady states biomass was detenn.ined

results are reported in Table 4.

(Fig. 2 and Fig. 5).

These

When the SRT is very high, therefore Dp is very low, equation 1 can be simplified:
Dh (COD inf - COD effl)

(2)

X - -------

ms

From Equation 2 the maintenance

of COD removal.

coefficient Ills can be estimated by plotting

as a function

Domestic wastewater treatment sludge production

TABLE 4

Steady State

1599

Analysis

TOe

SS
SS
Raw water
Reactor
g 1-1
g 1 -1
-- - ----- -- -- ---- ----- --- ---37- 50th
Bh
100d
35.6 (14.9)
0. 25 (0.09)
10.07 (0.77)
5B- 72th
1
40.2 (9.4)
0. 33 (0.12)
10. 3 (0.79)
101- 115th
40.4 (21.7)
0.7B (0.03)
B.34 (0.75)
120-134th
39. 4 (11.6)
0.79 (0.05)
12. B6 (1.42)
---6-20th
Bh
100d 20
(7.67)
0. 20 (0.11)
2.0B (0.24)
4h
2B -42th
20.74 (4.67)
0.2B (0.07)
4.95 (2.03)
73-94th
2
5 5. 15 (B.33)
0.29 (0. 13)
27.43 (1.43)
160-l7Sth
2h
SOd SLOB (17.3)
O.lB (0.07)
25.BB (2.20)
100d
17B-1BBth
100. 32 (29. 54) 0.23 (0.06)
36.3 (3. 5 1)
Run

Period

HRT

SRT

Removal
mg 1-1

) indicates the standard deviation of the P mean value calculated

'!his approach was applied by using the experimental results summarized in Table 4, but a
maintenance coefficient cannot be estimated due to the important dispersion of values. This
result can be explained by the high concentration of suspended solids in raw water, which is
not considered separately in
Equation 1. The incorporation of the maintenance concept
into the IAWPRC model should solve this limitation.
Membrane flux
Membrane with different organic composition were used in these experiments.
Regardless of
rating conditions (suspended solids concentration) comparison seems difficult. Figure 10
the permeability variation of each membrane.

90 r-------
PS (Run 1)
ETNA (Run 2)

:c

..
CII

E
Cii

Co
CII
C
..

.c
E

CII

::!!

45

30
15

1\

:i

INV

ll

..'.,:,- .1.1..

... ":'"

".

OL-----------------
200
160
120
BO
40
o
Time (days)
INV - change of recirculation flow direction
Fig. 10. Membrane permeability (RunS 1 and 2)

The GR 5 1 PP membranes have a lower initial permeability than E'lNA membranes. During run 1
changes:.in recirculation flow direction have a slight effect on the membrane permeability. With
a higher biomass concentration, ETNA membranes seem to give a higher flux after 1 50 days.
COOCLUSICN

Membrane bioreactor is a very attractive process. High sludge retention

excess sludge production were obtained because of the membrane efficiency.

time and very

With a SRT of 100 days and a HRT of 2 hours, a good effluent quality is obtained.

low

1600

s. CHAIZE and A. HUYARD

The major inconvenience for the developnent

of this process is not favoured by the high
operating cost due to the recirculation loop.
With regard to the results obtained, it is
necessary to optimize the process with the following operating conditions
- biomass concentration (determinated by SRT and HRT)
- membrane flux and surface area
- power consumption (0. transfer - recirculation loop).
In order to better understand the biological reactions involved in this process, it is
necessary to further develop the maintenance concept and its application to conventional
wastewater treatment prediction models.

ACKNCl4LEDGEMENT
Acknowledgement to G.M. Faup, Head Ingenior of the Central Laboratory and J. Mamen for helpful
discussion, to M. Le Digabel and M. Hurtrez for typing and illustrations of this paper. Thanks
to C.P. Leslie Grady for providing the SSSP program (Simulation of Single Sludge Process).
This work was funded by EUREKA project with the collaboration of Lyonnaise des !aux and DDS
Company.
REFERENCES
Arika, M., Kobayashi, H., Kimara, H. (1977). pilot plant test of an activated sludge
ultrafiltration combined process for domestic wastewater reclamation. Desalination, 23,
77-86.
Audic, J.M., Fugita, Y. and Faup, G.M. (1986). Le couplage boues activees - membrane : une
realite au Japon. T.S.M., 6, 297-300.
Bouillot, P., canales-;X:-;- Pareilleux, A., Huyard, A., Goma, G. (1989). Membrane bioreactor
for the evaluation of maintenance phenomena in wastewater treatment. Accepted for
publication in J. Fenn. Tech.
(1956). Colorimetric method
Dubois, M., Gilles, K.A., Hamilton, J.K., Rebers, B.A., Smith, F.
the determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem., 28, 350-356.
Fane, A.G., Fell, C.J.D., Nor, M.T. (1980). Ultraflltration(activated sludge
system.
R.
Development of a predictive model. ultrafiltration membranes and applications. Edito[
Cooper.
plenum Press, London-N.York.
Goma , G., Bouillot, P. (1986). wastewater treatment by bioreactor coupled with membrane
filtration. Presented paper at Biofair Conference, Tokyo, Japon.
Grethlein, H.E. (1978). Anaerobic digestion and membrane separation of domestic wastewater.
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Henze, M.,Grady Jr, C.P.L., Gujer, W., Marais, G.V.R., Matsud, T. (1986). IAWPRC Task Group
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Kanayama, H.,
Tomoyasu, T. and
Katayama,
S.
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l63-B, 224-231.
Smir.C.V., Gregorio, D.O., Talcott, R.M. (1969). The use of ultrafiltration membrane for
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Conference.
Strathmann, H.
(1985). Membranes and membrane processes in biotechnology. Trends
in
biotechnology, 3, 5, 112-118. Proc. 39th Ind. Waste Conf. Perdue Univ., 627-636.
Trevors , J.T., Mayfield, C.I., Iniss, W.E. (1982). Measurement of electron transport system
(E.T.5.) activity in soil. Microbiol. Ecol., , 163-168.
Yamamoto, K., Hiasa, M., MahmoOd, T., Matsuo, T. (1989). Direct solid-liquid separation using
hollow fiber membrane in an activated sludge aeration tank.