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Toluene removal in membrane bioreactors under recirculating and non-recirculating liquid conditions

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Abstract

A single-, dual- and multiple-tube dense phase silicone rubber membrane bioreactor were investigated for control of toluene-contaminated air under circulating and non-recirculating liquid conditions. A mathematical model was developed to describe the system. The reactors were seeded with a mixed bacterial consortium isolated from activated sludge and capable of aromatic biodegradation. After operating with recirculating liquid nutrient solution, the reactors were operated with no recirculation of the liquid, for 50 days or more in each instance. Average toluene removal measured in the single-tube reactor was 93 ppm with recirculating liquid and 102 ppm without recirculation of the liquid. Average removal measured in the dual-tube reactor was 396 ppm with recirculating liquid and 319 ppm without recirculation of the liquid. Operation under stagnant liquid conditions had no significant detrimental impact on bioreactor performance. Biokinetic parameters were measured for both the suspension and biofilm with values of the maximum specific utilization rate values (k) ranging from 0.01 to 0.42 h−1 and half saturation constant values (K S) ranging from 1.5 to 14.3 mg L−1. Results suggest that membrane bioreactors might be operated under non-recirculating liquid conditions without performance detriment, reducing or eliminating the energy requirements and costs associated with pump operation.

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Abbreviations

ATTC:

American Type Culture Collection

BTEX:

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene

EPA:

Environmental Protection Agency

EPCRA:

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act

ID:

Inner diameter

LCL95 :

Lower 95% confidence limit

OD:

outer diameter

PDMS:

Polydimethylsiloxane

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

UCL95 :

Upper 95% confidence limit

VOC:

Volatile organic compound

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids

d i :

membrane inner diameter

d o :

membrane outer diameter

D a :

diffusion coefficient of toluene in air

D m :

diffusion coefficient in the membrane

D w :

diffusion coefficient of toluene in water

D S :

diffusion coefficient of toluene in biofilm

H :

Henry’s law coefficient

k :

maximum specific utilization rate

k g :

gas phase mass transfer coefficient

k l :

liquid mass transfer coefficient

k m :

membrane mass transfer coefficient

K S :

half saturation constant

K OV :

overall mass transfer coefficient

P :

permeability

P(i, j):

cylindrical coordinate position

r :

radial direction, cylindrical coordinate system

r i :

inner radius of silicone tube

r o :

outer radius of silicone tube

Re :

Reynolds number

R S :

reaction rate

S :

solubility of toluene in silicone

Sc:

Schmidt number

t :

time

v g :

gas velocity

v w :

velocity of water

V :

velocity

z :

vertical axis in cylindrical coordinate system

μ:

shear viscosity

θ:

angular direction in the cylindrical coordinate system

ρ:

density of water

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Acknowledgments

This work was made possible by the highly skilled labor supplied by the University of Missouri-Rolla maintenance personnel. The authors thank Jeff Bradshaw, Bill Fredrickson, Steve Gable, and Gary Abbott for their advice and assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Systems and Engineering Management, Air Force Institute of Technology/ENV, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7765, USA

    Ellen England & Michael Roberts

  2. University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO, USA

    Mark W. Fitch & Melanie Mormile

Authors
  1. Ellen England
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  2. Mark W. Fitch
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  3. Melanie Mormile
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  4. Michael Roberts
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Correspondence to Ellen England.

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England, E., Fitch, M.W., Mormile, M. et al. Toluene removal in membrane bioreactors under recirculating and non-recirculating liquid conditions. Clean Techn Environ Policy 7, 259–269 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-005-0014-7

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