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A plant-wide modelling comparison between membrane bioreactors and conventional activated sludge
Giorgio Mannina1, Alida Cosenza1, Taise Ferreira Rebouças1
1Engineeering Department, Palermo University, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.8, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
Bioresource Technology
|November 26, 2019
Summary
This study compares conventional activated sludge (CAS) and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems using mathematical modeling. MBR systems show higher greenhouse gas emissions due to increased energy use, especially under varied operating conditions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Treatment Technologies
Background:
- Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) are key wastewater treatment systems.
- Understanding their operational differences is crucial for effective plant management and environmental impact assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a plant-wide mathematical modeling comparison between CAS and MBR systems.
- To identify key features for optimizing the operation of both CAS and MBR plants.
- To analyze the impact of wastewater composition, operating conditions, and oxygen transfer efficiency on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs.
Main Methods:
- Plant-wide mathematical modeling was employed for a comparative analysis.
- Scenario analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of various factors on system performance.
- Direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and operating costs were quantified.
Main Results:
- Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems exhibit higher indirect GHG emissions compared to Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) systems, primarily due to elevated energy consumption.
- Under simultaneous variations in inflow wastewater composition, operating conditions, and oxygen transfer efficiency (scenario 4), both CAS and MBR systems showed exacerbated direct and indirect GHG emissions.
- Maximum direct GHG emissions reached 0.94 kgCO2eq m-3 for CAS and 1.56 kgCO2eq m-3 for MBR during scenario 4.
Conclusions:
- MBR systems, while efficient, present higher energy demands contributing to greater indirect GHG emissions than CAS.
- Operational optimization and consideration of environmental factors are critical for mitigating GHG emissions in both wastewater treatment systems.
- The study provides valuable insights for selecting and operating wastewater treatment technologies to minimize environmental impact.
