Engineering comparison evaluation of emerging biological sewage treatment technologies

The research conducted a pilot-scale comparative study of these four emerging aerobic sewage treatment technologies: R1 - Conventional MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor), R2 - Conventional IFAS (Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge), R3 - Conventional AGS (Aerobic Granular Sludge), and R4 - hybrid configuration of AGS partly filled with high-performance biocarrier (AGS-BF). The reactors were compared in terms of biomass formation time, system performance and stability, area demand, energy consumption, and other engineering aspects. COD removal and nitrification were high for all reactors. However, total nitrogen removal was moderate for reactors R1 (48%) and R2 (54%), but values ​​above 70% were observed for R3 and R4. P removal was also possible, reaching values ​​below 52% for the MBBR (R1) and IFAS (R2) systems but with values ​​above 80% in the aerobic granulation systems R3 and R4. The inclusion of biocarrier in R4 significantly improved the effluent quality in terms of suspended solids, as well as the denitrification process. AGS reactors offer a 6% area reduction compared to MBBR and IFAS. However, the type of biocarrier used interferes with this direct comparison. In general terms, a reduction of 19% in the electrical energy demand of the aerobic granulation systems was achieved compared to MBBR and 30.5% to the IFAS. The results obtained in this research enable a more comprehensive comparative analysis of the various evaluated emerging aerobic technologies, providing valuable data for the design and operation of sewage treatment plants.