Nitrogen removal using a membrane bioreactor with rubber particles as the fouling reducer

The use of granule activated carbon (GAC) and rubber particles as the bio-fouling reducer in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was evaluated in this study. The addition of GAC tends to temporarily reduce Transmembrane Pressure (TMP). Then, after the initial reduction, TMP gradually increased back up to 0.7 bar, indicating significant fouling on the membrane. Low TMP values were observed after adding 0.5% (V/V) rubber particles to the same MBR. The organic compound and nitrogen removal efficiencies of the MBR under intermittent aeration were over 94% and 93.3%, respectively. The results showed that Dysgonomonas, Acidobacteria, and Pantoea sp. contributed to the nitrification process while Lactobacillus, Erythrobacter, Phytobacter, and Mycobacterium contributed to the denitrification process.