In this article, the long-term use of cationic polyelectrolyte to improve the sludge filterability and to control membrane fouling in bioreactor membrane while treating refinery effluents have been evaluated in pilot scale. Corrective and preventive cationic polyelectrolyte dosages have been added to the membrane bioreactor (MBR) to evaluate the membrane fouling mitigation in both strategies. The results have confirmed that the use of the Membrane performance enhancer (MPE) increased the sludge filterability and reduced the membrane fouling. During the monitoring period, stress events occurred due to the increase in oil and grease and phenol concentrations in the MBR feeds. The preventive use of cationic polyelectrolyte allowed for a more effective and stable sludge filterability, with lower cationic polyelectrolyte consumption and without decreasing MBR's overall pollutant removal performance.
This study aims to evaluate membrane bioreactor (MBR) performance in a pilot scale to treat petroleum refinery effluent, and has been primarily focused on (1) investigation of dynamics of organic matter removal; (2) characterization of membrane fouling under real hazardous events; (3) evaluation of the effect of fouling on membrane lifetime; and (4) estimate the membrane lifetime. The results have shown that the MBR was able to effectively reduce COD, NH-N, turbidity, color, phenol and toxicity, and bring them to the levels required to meet disposal and non-potable water reuse standards. The FTIR results showed that organic matter was removed by biological oxidation and/or retained by adsorption in the biological sludge, or retention in the UF membrane, and that SMP was produced during the treatment. In terms of membrane permeability, the results showed that soluble fraction of mixed liquor contributed significantly to membrane fouling. And finally, considering the concept of lifetime based on permeability decline, a membrane lifetime of 7 years is expected.
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