Application of submerged membrane bioreactor technology for the treatment of high strength dairy wastewater

Abstract In this study, an aerobic submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR) was used for the treatment of dairy wastewater at 15 h of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and 40 d of sludge retention time (SRT) with constant permeate flux (9.5 L.m-3.d-1(LMH)). The COD, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and orthophosphate (PO4-P) removal efficiencies were 98.2%, 95.4% and 88.9%, respectively. The results demonstrated that sMBR was a suitable and effective treatment for removal of organic matter and nutrients for treating dairy wastewater. The properties of the activated sludge, such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial products (SMP) concentration, protein and carbohydrate, relative hydrophobicity, zeta potential and floc size distribution were also investigated. According to the results obtained, the total EPS content was lower than that of domestic wastewater treatment by MBR technology.