Effect of SRT on digestibility of polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids in waste activated sludge using an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and analysis of membrane foulant

Abstract

 Effects of SRT and HRT on digestibility of polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids in waste activated sludge were investigated in an anerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The AnMBR was operated in six different phases. Degradation efficiencies of polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids were increased with prolonged SRT from 30 days to 90 days. Shortening of HRT from 30 days to 15 days lead to increase of organic loading rate, which further increased biogas production rate. Trans-membrane pressure reached to 41 kPa during 154-days continuous membrane filtration of digested sludge. Inorganic irreversible fouling was dominant in the used membrane and Ca, P, and Mg were extracted.