A Comparison of Biosolids Production and System Efficiency between Activated Sludge, Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor, and Sequencing Batch Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor in the Dairy Wastewater Treatment

Rui Boavida-Dias, João R. Silva, Andreia D. Santos, Rui C. Martins, Luis M. Castro and Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira
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Rui Boavida-Dias: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
João R. Silva: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polytechnic of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
Andreia D. Santos: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polytechnic of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
Rui C. Martins: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
Luis M. Castro: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polytechnic of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Dairy industry wastewater is rich in organic content, presenting a high biodegradability, and therefore biological treatments are widely employed. This study aimed to evaluate biosolids production in three systems: activated sludge (AS), movingbed biofilm reactor (MBBR), and sequencingbatch movingbed biofilm reactor (SBMBBR). Simulated dairy wastewater was used at different organic load rates (OLRs): 1.22, 2.87, and 5.44 g COD L −1 d −1 . Besides biosolids production, COD, total carbon (TC), and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was evaluated. Biosolids production was measured in the mixed liquor, carrier-adhered biomass, treated wastewater, and surplus sludge. The operational conditions were kept similar for the three systems, with a carrier filling ratio of 50% for MBBR and SBMBBR. The SBMBBR proved to have better performance in the removal efficiencies of COD, TC, and TN for all OLRs studied. The MBBR presented a similar COD and TC removal efficiency as the SBBR for the two highest OLRs (2.87 and 5.44 g COD L −1 d −1 ). Concerning biosolids production, the MBBR system produced less biomass and delivered the lowest amount of adhered biomass inside the carriers. The AS treatment generated the highest amount of sludge and offered the worst treatment capability for all OLRs evaluated.

Keywords: wastewater treatment; dairy effluent; activated sludge; moving-bed biofilm reactor; sequencing-batch moving-bed biofilm reactor; biological treatment; carbon removal; nutrient removal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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