Modelling mesophilic-thermophilic temperature transitions experienced by an aerobic membrane bioreactor treating furfural plant effluent

Authors

  • LG Kay Pollution Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa
  • CJ Brouckaert Pollution Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa
  • RC Sindall Pollution Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i3.6711

Keywords:

wastewater treatment modelling, furfural process effluent, thermophilic, physico-chemical framework

Abstract

A mathematical model was developed of an aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating effluent from a by-products facility at a sugar mill producing furfural, based on measurements of microbial kinetics and stoichiometry at different temperatures. The model was calibrated and validated against plant data using volumetric flow into the MBR and volumetric sludge wasting from the MBR as inputs.  The model is able to predict steady-state and unsteady-state operation of the MBR under both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, and the transitions between the two regimes.  Comparison of model simulations and plant data suggests that thermophilic operation is advantageous, but it is less stable than mesophilic operation and frequent feed disruptions can have detrimental effects on MBR operation.

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Published

2019-07-31

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 3 July (2019): Water SA

Section

Research paper

License

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

Kay, L., Brouckaert, C. and Sindall, R. (2019) “Modelling mesophilic-thermophilic temperature transitions experienced by an aerobic membrane bioreactor treating furfural plant effluent”, Water SA, 45(3 July). doi:10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i3.6711.