Biodegradation of pharmaceuticals in membrane aerated biofilm reactor for autotrophic nitrogen removal: A model-based evaluation

Peng, L; Chen, X; Xu, Y; Liu, Y; Gao, SH; Ni, BJ

Biodegradation of pharmaceuticals in membrane aerated biofilm reactor for autotrophic nitrogen removal: A model-based evaluation

Peng, L Chen, X Xu, Y Liu, Y

Gao, SH Ni, BJ

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Membrane Science, 2015, 494, pp. 39-47
Issue Date:: 2015-11-05

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Peng, L
dc.contributor.author	Chen, X
dc.contributor.author	Xu, Y
dc.contributor.author	Liu, Y https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6677-7961
dc.contributor.author	Gao, SH
dc.contributor.author	Ni, BJ
dc.date.accessioned	2023-03-23T22:58:54Z
dc.date.available	2023-03-23T22:58:54Z
dc.date.issued	2015-11-05
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Membrane Science, 2015, 494, pp. 39-47
dc.identifier.issn	0376-7388
dc.identifier.issn	1873-3123
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/168268
dc.description.abstract	Wastewater treatment systems are a primary pathway for pharmaceuticals (PhACs) entering the aquatic environment, which require reliable prediction through integrating the specific biodegradation processes into modeling framework. As ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are known to be able to catalyze the oxidation of a wide array of organic compounds, membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) that remove nitrogen autotrophically through aerobic ammonia oxidation by AOB followed by Anammox may be capable of removing PhACs. In this work, a mathematical model was constructed to assess the PhAC biodegradation and removal potential in MABR under various operational conditions. The cometabolic biodegradation kinetics was used to model PhAC biodegradation by both AOB and heterotrophs. Simulations show that AOB play a major role in PhAC biodegradation with minor contribution from heterotrophs under the influent condition with high-strength ammonium. Both oxygen surface loading and influent surface loading (or hydraulic retention time (HRT)) are found to significantly impact the simultaneous removal of PhACs and total nitrogen (TN) at the optimal biofilm thickness of 750. μm. Approximately 80% of PhACs can be removed in the MABR under operational conditions (oxygen surface loading and HRT) optimal for TN removal with above 75% TN removal achieved. When treating low-strength nitrogenous wastewater, PhAC removal efficiency decreases substantially due to the lower abundance of AOB. The presence of organic matters would substantially increase PhAC removal efficiency mainly via heterotrophs biodegradation pathway, but would suppress the Anammox activity.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE130100451
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130103147
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Membrane Science
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.memsci.2015.07.043
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	03 Chemical Sciences, 09 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Chemical Engineering
dc.title	Biodegradation of pharmaceuticals in membrane aerated biofilm reactor for autotrophic nitrogen removal: A model-based evaluation
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	494
utslib.for	0904 Chemical Engineering
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences
utslib.for	09 Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-03-23T22:58:53Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	494

Abstract:

Wastewater treatment systems are a primary pathway for pharmaceuticals (PhACs) entering the aquatic environment, which require reliable prediction through integrating the specific biodegradation processes into modeling framework. As ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are known to be able to catalyze the oxidation of a wide array of organic compounds, membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) that remove nitrogen autotrophically through aerobic ammonia oxidation by AOB followed by Anammox may be capable of removing PhACs. In this work, a mathematical model was constructed to assess the PhAC biodegradation and removal potential in MABR under various operational conditions. The cometabolic biodegradation kinetics was used to model PhAC biodegradation by both AOB and heterotrophs. Simulations show that AOB play a major role in PhAC biodegradation with minor contribution from heterotrophs under the influent condition with high-strength ammonium. Both oxygen surface loading and influent surface loading (or hydraulic retention time (HRT)) are found to significantly impact the simultaneous removal of PhACs and total nitrogen (TN) at the optimal biofilm thickness of 750. μm. Approximately 80% of PhACs can be removed in the MABR under operational conditions (oxygen surface loading and HRT) optimal for TN removal with above 75% TN removal achieved. When treating low-strength nitrogenous wastewater, PhAC removal efficiency decreases substantially due to the lower abundance of AOB. The presence of organic matters would substantially increase PhAC removal efficiency mainly via heterotrophs biodegradation pathway, but would suppress the Anammox activity.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/168268