Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrocoagulation-integrated hybrid membrane processes for the treatment of tannery wastewater

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three different combinations of treatment techniques, i.e. electrocoagulation combined with microfiltration (EMR), membrane bioreactor (MBR) and electrocoagulation integrated with membrane bioreactor (hybrid MBR, (HMBR)), were analysed and compared for the treatment of tannery wastewater operated for 7 days under the constant trans-membrane pressure of 5 kPa. HMBR was found to be most suitable in performance as well as fouling reduction, with 94 % of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, 100 % chromium removal and 8 % improvement in percentage reduction in permeate flux compared to MBR with only 90 % COD removal and 67 % chromium removal. The effect of mixed liquor suspended solids on fouling was also investigated and was found to be insignificant. EMR was capable of elevating the flux but was not as efficient as HMBR and MBR in COD removal. Fouling reduction by HMBR was further confirmed by SEM-EDX and particle size analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Malack MH (2007) Performance of an immersed membrane bioreactor IMBR. Desalination 214:112–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Shawabkeh AN, Shen Y, Maillacheruvu KY (2004) Effect of DC electrical fields on COD in aerobic mixed sludge processes. Environ Eng Sci 21:321–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Apaydin O, Kurt U, Gonullu MT (2009) An investigation on the treatment of tannery wastewater by electrocoagulation. Glob Nest J 11(4):546–555

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1998) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th ed. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington, D.C.

  • Artiga P, Ficara E, Malpei F, Garrido JM, Mende R (2005) Treatment of two industrial waste waters in a submerged membrane bioreactor. Desalination 179:161–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang IS, Kim SN (2005) Wastewater treatment using membrane filtration—effect of biosolids concentration on cake resistance. Process Biochem 40:1307–1314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang IS, Lee CH (1998) Membrane filtration characteristics in membrane-coupled activated sludge system—the effect of physiological states of activated sludge on membrane fouling. Desalination 120:221–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen JP, Yang CZ, Zhou JH, Wang XY (2007) Study of the influence of the electric field on membrane flux of a new type of membrane bioreactor. Chem Eng J 128:177–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung Y, Choi H, Lee S, Cho JB (2004) Treatment of tannery wastewater with high nitrogen content using anoxic/oxic membrane bio-reactor (MBR). J Environ Sci Health A 39(7):1881–1890

    Google Scholar 

  • Defrance L, Jaffrin MY, Gupta B, Paullier P, Geaugey V (2000) Contribution of various constituents of activated sludge to a membrane bioreactor fouling. Bioresour Technol 73:105–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Golder AK, Samanta AN, Ray S (2007) Removal of trivalent chromium by electrocoagulation. Sep Purif Technol 53:33–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Govindasamy P, Madhavan SD, Revathi S, Shanmugam P (2006) Performance evaluation of common effluent treatment plant for tanneries at Pallavaram CETP. J Environ Sci Eng 48:213–220

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holt P, Barton G, Mitchell C (1999) Electrocoagulation as a wastewater treatment. The Third Annual Australian Environmental Engineering Research Event. 23–26 November Castlemaine, Victoria

  • Hong SP, Bae TH, Tak TM, Hong S, Randall A (2002) Fouling control in activated sludge submerged hollow fiber membrane bioreactors. Desalination 143:219–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Judd S (2005) Fouling control in submerged membrane bioreactors. Water Sci Technol 51:27–34

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keerthi SV, Mahalakshmi M, Balasubramanian N (2013) Development of hybrid membrane bioreactor for tannery effluent treatment. Desalination 309:231–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Konstantinos D, Achilleas C, Evgenia V (2011) Removal of nickel, copper, zinc and chromium from synthetic and industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation. Int J Environ Sci 1(5):248–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Le-Clech P, Jefferson B, Judd SJ (2003) Impact of aeration, solids concentration and membrane characteristics on the hydraulic performance of a membrane bioreactor. J Membr Sci 218:117–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Ahn W, Lee C (2001) Comparison of the filtration characteristics between attached and suspended growth microorganisms in submerged membrane bioreactor. Water Res 35:2435–2445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee W, Kang S, Shin H (2003) Sludge characteristics and their contribution to microfiltration in submerged membrane bioreactors. J Membr Sci 216:217–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Liu J, Gao B, Yang F (2012) Minute electric field reduced membrane fouling and improved performance of membrane bioreactor. Sep Purif Technol 86:106–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melhem KB, Elektorowicz M (2010) Development of a novel submerged membrane electrobioreactor (SMEBR): performance for fouling reduction. Environ Sci Technol 44:3298–3304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melhem KB, Elektorowicz M (2011) Performance of the submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) with iron electrodes for wastewater treatment and fouling reduction. J Membr Sci 379:434–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng F, Zhang H, Yang F, Zhang S, Li Y, Zhang X (2006) Identification of activated sludge properties affecting membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors. Sep Purif Technol 51:95–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munz G, Gualtiero M, Salvadori L, Claudia B, Claudio L (2008) Process efficiency and microbial monitoring in MBR (membrane bioreactor) and CASP (conventional activated sludge process) treatment of tannery wastewater. Bioresour Technol 99:8559–8564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh Babu R, Bhadrinarayana NS, Meera KM, Begum S, Anantharaman (2007) Treatment of tannery waste water by electro-coagulation. J Univ Chem Technol Metall 42(2):201–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon PA, Ahmed Basha C, Velan M, Balasubramanian N, Marimuthu P (2009) Augmentation of biodegradability of pulp and paper industry wastewater by electrochemical pre-treatment and optimization by RSM. Sep Purif Technol 69:109–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei FJ, Bing SY, Zheng Z, Zhang JB, Shu LI, Yuan-Chun T (2007) Treatment of tannery wastewater by electrocoagulation. J Environ Sci 19:1409–1415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamato N, Kimura K, Miyoshi T, Watanabe Y (2006) Difference in membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) caused by membrane polymer materials. J Membr Sci 280:911–919

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaroual Z, Azzi M, Saib N, Chainet E (2006) Contribution to the study of electro-coagulation mechanism in basic textile effluent. J Hazard Mater 131:73–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuoa W, Zhanga G, Meng Q, Zhang H (2008) Characteristics and application of multiple membrane process in plating wastewater reutilization. Desalination 222:187–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The first author acknowledges the financial support given by the Department of Science and Technology, India, under the women scientist scheme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, A.C. Tech. Campus, Anna University, Chennai, 600025, India

    Keerthi, V. Vinduja & N. Balasubramanian

Authors
  1. Keerthi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Vinduja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Balasubramanian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Balasubramanian.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Keerthi, Vinduja, V. & Balasubramanian, N. Electrocoagulation-integrated hybrid membrane processes for the treatment of tannery wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 7441–7449 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1766-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1766-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation