CHARACTERIZATION OF SLUDGE STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITY IN SUBMERGED MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR

ESPINOSA-BOUCHOT M. C. / MASSE A. / SPERANDIO M. / et al. - ARTICLE DE PERIODIQUE - 2005

Sludge characteristics of a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) and an activated sludge process (AS) were compared, during a first phase at the same operating conditions (low MLSS and conventional SRT) and in a second phase with a high sludge retention time (SRT) in the membrane bioreactor. In the first phase respirometric experiments didn't demonstrate a significant difference in the maximal removal rates of either MBR or AS biomass (with excess substrate), except in the dynamic period during which the membrane retention gave an advantage by increasing the biomass activity.