Flexible hybrid membrane treatment systems for tailored nutrient management: A new paradigm in urban wastewater treatment

• Published in: Journal of membrane science 2013-11, Vol.446, p.34-41
• Main Authors: Vuono, D., Henkel, J., Benecke, J., Cath, T.Y., Reid, T., Johnson, L., Drewes, J.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: artificial membranes; bioreactors; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Distributed wastewater treatment; Effluents; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hybrid systems; Infrastructure; Integrated water resource management; Management; Membrane bioreactor; Membranes; nutrient management; Nutrients; Reuse; Sequencing batch reactor; Tailored water reuse; Wastewater treatment; Water reclamation; water reuse
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2013.06.021

The integration of onsite, decentralized, and satellite wastewater treatment systems into existing urban water infrastructure is an attractive option for recovering water and nutrients locally for multi-purpose reuse. To facilitate wastewater treatment and reuse, tailored to local needs, a hybrid membrane treatment process is proposed that couples sequencing batch reactors with a membrane bioreactor (SBR-MBR). In this study, we explored the flexibility and robustness of this hybrid membrane system at a demonstration-scale under real-world conditions by tightly managing and controlling operation conditions to produce effluent of different qualities for multipurpose reuse. Results suggest that an SBR-MBR treatment configuration is flexible, robust and resilient to changing operating conditions. The hybrid system was capable of producing different effluent qualities within 1 week of changing operating condition with no adverse effects on membrane performance. This work reinforces the need for a new paradigm of water reclamation and reuse and introduces a new treatment concept facilitating tailored nutrient management for a sustainable urban water infrastructure. •A SBR-MBR hybrid system can be operated to generate on demand tailored water.•Permeate qualities can be achieved without compromising membrane performance.•Temperature had highest impact on membrane permeability.•Transmembrane pressure did not correlate with MLSS concentrations.•The SBR-MBR hybrid systems offers an alternative for tailored nutrient management.