DEVELOPMENT OF MEMBRANE ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTOR FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Membrane technologies are highly reliable for water and wastewater treatment, especially biological wastewater treatment. However, the performance of the pressure-driven processes is highly restricted by membrane fouling. Variation of hydrodynamic conditions near the membrane surface can diminish membrane fouling. This study developed a novel membrane rotating biological contactor (MRBC), an integrated system embracing membrane filtration and a conventional rotating biological contactor (RBC) in one individual bioreactor by inserting a membrane panel inside the bioreactor. The MRBC is equipped with a unique feature in which the disk rotations are used to provide biological aeration and as an inherent mechanism for membrane fouling control by physically scouring off fouling materials and improving hydrodynamics near the membrane surface. Another MRBC (MRBC with wipers) configuration utilizes the unique feature of rotating wipers attached to the shaft to wipe the membrane surface to yield an efficient and compact system.