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Description: Popping the Bubble
Popping the Bubble
From February 2018 to March 2019, the Elmira Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ontario, Canada, investigated whether a high-loaded, biological pretreatment pure biofilm system could remove biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and nitrogen without bubbles. The trial system used a membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) to treat primary clarifier effluent heavily loaded with industrial wastewater flows. The results demonstrated that the MABR can be used to remove up to 90% of BOD and 60% of nitrogen loads at relatively low wastewater temperatures (between 10°C and 12°C).
Author(s)
José R. Bicudo
SourceWater Environment & Technolology
Subjectmembranes; aeration; nutrient removal
Document typeMagazine article
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Print publication date Mar 2020
Volume / Issue32 / 3
Content sourceWorld Water Magazine
First / last page(s)40 - 48
Copyright2020
Word count2,737
Subject keywordsElmira Wastewater Treatment PlantOntario, Canadamembrane aerated biofilm reactorMABRindustrial waste

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Description: Popping the Bubble
About Elmira
Popping the Bubble
The Elmira facility has a rated capacity of 7,800 m3/d and peak flow rate of 19,500 m3/d. Unit treatment processes include flow equalization, screening, vortex grit removal, primary clarification, biological nutrient removal bioreactors (i.e., a combined anaerobic-anoxic-aeration process), secondary clarification, tertiary filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count312
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Description: Popping the Bubble
MABR Explained
Popping the Bubble
The MABR system chosen for this trial was an OxyMem system that uses dense gas-permeable, silicone, hollow-fiber membranes as both a medium to supply oxygen for aerobic treatment as well as a surface for the growth of a biological film. The biofilm receives its oxygen directly from the membrane surface on which it grows.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count585
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Description: Popping the Bubble
Trial Design
Popping the Bubble
Elmira’s trial unit consisted of one OxyFILM generation-3 MABR module from OxyMem Ltd. (Athlone, Ireland) housed in a 9 m3 tank. Flow was fed to the system by a small submersible pump located in the effluent channel downstream of the primary clarifiers. A process blower was used to provide air to the membranes and for mixing using an integrated airlift. An additional scour blower...
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count362
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Description: Popping the Bubble
Trial Results
Popping the Bubble
Table 1 (p. 43) shows the average influent and effluent concentration data for the three different phases. The considerable industrial load received at the facility is evident by the high COD:BOD ratio in the feed of 2.5:1 to 3.5:1. Typical high-strength wastewater COD:BOD ratio is 2.5, according to Wastewater Engineering – Treatment and Resource Recovery.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count156
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Description: Popping the Bubble
sCOD and BOD Removal
Popping the Bubble
As this is a biofilm system, it is more interesting to focus on sCOD and BOD removal as the particulate portion of the COD will settle rather than be oxidized. During Phase I only, COD and sCOD were analyzed because they provide a fast and reliable measure. BOD was analyzed from Phase II onward.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count225
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Description: Popping the Bubble
Nitrogen Removal
Popping the Bubble
Effluent nitrite and nitrate concentrations were measured from the middle of Phase II to the end of the study period. Figure 6 (p. 45) shows the treatment data.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count391
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Description: Popping the Bubble
Oxygen Transfer Rate
Popping the Bubble
One of the key parameters for assessing the performance of the MABR is the oxygen transfer rate. Oxygen transfer rate (OTR) is the equivalent in MABRs to flux in membrane bioreactors. The higher the OTR the better, as it means less membranes are required. Figure 10 (p. 48) shows OTR as a function of influent flow rates.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count140
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Description: Popping the Bubble
Bonus Phosphorus Removal
Popping the Bubble
Although achieving phosphorus removal was not a major objective of this trial, a decision was made to look at different forms of phosphorus in the influent and effluent at the end of Phase II and throughout Phase III. As shown in Figure 11 (p. 48), the MABR was able to remove both filtered-phosphorus and soluble-phosphorus efficiently.
PublisherWater Environment Federation
Copyright2020
Word count401
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Popping the Bubble