A SUBMERGED TUBULAR CERAMIC MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR FOR HIGH STRENGTH WASTEWATER TREATMENT

A 4 liters submerged tubular ceramic membrane bioreactor was applied in laboratory scale to treat 2400 mg/l of COD. A prolonged sludge retention time of 200 days in contrast with the conventional time of 5 to 15 days was explored.It was found that the system produced more than 99% of MeS re-duction. The mixed liquor suspended solids was higher than the value from a conventional wastewater treament plant. It was noted that the ceramic membrane presented a signifi-cant soluble nutrient rejection when the microbial metabo-lism of biological treatment broke down.