Eureka! Institutional Repository

Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors in combination with Membrane Bioreactors (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors - Membrane Bioreactors, MBBR-MBR) are an advanced technique with application in the treatment of municipal wastewater and industrial waste. It is an innovative technology, which has been constantly evolving in recent years, as it presents several advantages, which will be analyzed in detail below. The aim of this particular method is to improve the filtration and increase the efficient operation time of the membrane, through the reduction of clogging. The aim of the work is to study the membrane fouling and treatment performance of municipal wastewater in a semi-pilot moving bed biofilm reactor combined with an MBBR-MBR membrane bioreactor using commercial Kaldnes K1 biocarriers. Initially, the theoretical part describes the operating principle of bioreactors and the types of devices. The advantages and disadvantages of membrane bioreactors are also listed, with a special focus on membrane infarction, which is the main disadvantage. Also presented are the factors that contribute to heart attacks as well as ways to deal with the problem. Then, the combination of biofilm moving bed bioreactors with membrane bioreactors is reported and analyzed. The experimental part presents the methods used and the materials used. To evaluate the treatment performance and membrane fouling mechanism in an MBBR-MBR system, two continuous operation experiments were performed. During the first experiment no biocarriers were added to the unit and therefore it served as a control MBR unit. Commercial type K1 biocarriers were added during the experiment, and the second unit was operated as MBBR-MBR unit K1. The aim was the comparative study of membrane clogging and wastewater treatment efficiency between the two units, through the methods of total nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium nitrogen.