Abstract

The membrane electro-bioreactor (MEBR) has demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of wastewater, where superior quality of the effluent was achieved. The MEBR is a compact hybrid unit that uses several processes, such as activated sludge, membrane filtration, and electrokinetic phenomena. The objective of this study was to improve the treatment of wastewater by monitoring and controlling MEBR processes on-line, which was accomplished by implementing an automation system. As the complexity of the processes increase in the treatment wastewater, it is difficult to their guarantee performance; the automation system maintained the wastewater treatment to satisfactory performance.
Automation of the system was accomplished through control algorithms using on-line instrumentation of critical parameters such as: dissolved oxygen, aeration, and water levels. The MEBR system demonstrated removal of carbon and nutrients (phosphorus, and nitrogen) for water recovery. Automated aeration ensured biological treatment without excessive aeration, fluctuating low dissolved oxygen concentrations allowed for simultaneous aerobic and anoxic conditions without inhibiting biological treatment. Automated electrokinetic improved nutrient removal with reduced energy consumption, also biological treatment was not inhibited. Electrokinetic demonstrated even lower than previously observed energy consumption. A user interface was implemented to allow on-site monitoring of the processes as well as allow adjustment of process parameters. Having a completely automated MEBR allowed this novel wastewater treatment system to be implemented in a remote location, as a decentralized system, in order to simulate an effective wastewater treatment system which may be applied to improve the quality of life for the secluded population of northern Canada and Quebec.