Submerged Membrane Bioreactor for Bisphenol Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wastewater treatment methods are inadequate in completely removing bisphenol compounds, such as bisphenol A, from municipal wastewater, leading to environmental and health concerns due to their persistence and toxicity.
Innovation Solution
A submerged membrane bioreactor system with a biomass in a volatile suspended solid form is operated continuously to reduce bisphenol compound content, with specific parameters like volatile suspended solid concentration, chemical oxygen demand, and hydraulic retention time optimized to achieve effective removal, and the process involves acclimatization of biomass to oxidize bisphenol compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional activated sludge process is used, then the treatment process is simple and easy to operate, but the removal efficiency of bisphenol compounds is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines membrane filtration technology with the activated sludge process to create a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system. This merging of physical separation (membrane) and biological degradation (activated sludge) achieves high removal efficiency for bisphenol compounds while maintaining operational feasibility through integrated design
2Reliability
If membrane bioreactor is used to improve removal efficiency, then the removal efficiency of bisphenol compounds increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane serves multiple functions: it acts as a physical barrier for solid-liquid separation, enables high biomass concentration retention, and provides a support matrix for biofilm formation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate treatment stages, thereby managing system complexity while achieving high removal efficiency
3Reliability
If high biomass concentration is maintained in membrane bioreactor, then the removal efficiency improves, but the energy consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes key operational parameters including maintaining specific biomass concentrations (VSS), controlling hydraulic retention time, and adjusting aeration rates. These parameter optimizations enable high removal efficiency while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding excessive aeration and maintaining stable operational conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves significant reduction of bisphenol compounds in wastewater, maintaining low concentrations and maintaining high COD removal efficiency, outperforming conventional activated sludge reactors in treating bisphenol-contaminated wastewater.
Implementation Method 1
Other previous studies have reported that adsorption onto sludge, biodegradation and transformation are major pathways for BPA removal in activated sludge process
Implementation Method 2
acclimatization of the biomass for oxidizing the bisphenol compound prior to operation of the membrane bioreactor
Implementation Method 3
submerged membrane bioreactor system and biological methods for removing bisphenol compounds from municipal wastewater
Data Source
AI summary
The present document describes a process and a bioreactor for reducing a bisphenol compound content of a wastewater using a membrane bioreactor containing a biomass in a volatile suspended solid (VSS) form where the biomass in the membrane bioreactor is operating continuously to reduce bisphenol compound content when the bisphenol compound volumetric load is below 108 g m−3 d−1.