Study on effect of powdered activated carbon on the fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor
投加粉末活性炭对一体式膜-生物反应器膜污染的影响研究

The effect of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on the fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor was investigated. For the two kinds of activated sludge (bulking sludge and non-bulking sludge), the addition of PAC could alleviate membrane fouling, as the increased critical flux and reduced transmembrane pressure (TMP) during long-term run. The optimal PAC dose was different upon sludge characteristics and concentration, however, overdosed PAC led to a decrease of critical flux. The addition of PAC remarkably reduced the amount of solutes, which caused membrane fouling by adsorbing to the membrane or plugging the pores, as well as improve the sludge floc structure. The specific resistance to filtration (SRF) of sludge was found to have a good correlation with membrane filterability of mixed liquor. SRF can be used as a convenient index for measurement of membrane filterability.