Master thesis

Design of a Pilot-Scale Membrane Bioreactor

for Deammonification
Camila Correa da Costa e Silva

Supervisor:
Kai Barbara Griebel, [Link].

Aachen, 11th February 2021

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

Good morning, today I am going to present the results of my master thesis: Design of
a Pilot-scale Membrane Bioreactor for Deammonification

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 Outline of presentation

ꟾ Deammonification process

ꟾ Membrane process for nitrogen removal

ꟾ MBR for deammonification – Evaluation of studies

ꟾ Pilot-scale DeaMBR

ꟾ Conclusion & Outlook

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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The presentation is structered in five parts: I going to starting explain

Deammonifictaion process, then the membrane process for nitrogen removal
compouds, the studies that use MBR for deammonification, design of the pilot-scale
and finally the conclusion and outlook.

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 Deammonification process
Deammonification combines two reactions: Partial Nitrification and Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox)
Nitrification Nitrate Denitrification
O2 Carbon
NO3-
Aerobic Anoxic
condition condition
Advantages Disadvantages
• Less oxygen required (40%) Nitrite Nitrite Shunt • Slow growing bacteria
Nitrite
• No carbon required NO2-
O2 NO2- Carbon • Bacteria wash-out
• Less sludge production [1] • Substrate competition
Anammox
(AMX)
Evaluate the existing MBRAnaerobic
technologycondition
that could be used for deammonification
Ammonia Nitrogen Gas
DesignNH
a membrane
+ Nitrate (DeaMBR) on a pilot-scale
bioreactor for deammonification
3/NH4 N2
NO3-
Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy
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Deammonification is one of short cut pathway of

nitrogen cycle, that combines PN and anaerobic
ammonium oxidation.
First 55% of the ammonium in the influent is convert to
nitrite, then ammonium and nitrite at [Link] ratio are
anaerobically converting into nitrogen gas and nitrate.
PN/A has the strengths of requiring no external carbon
source, avoiding the energetic cost of aeration, and
producing negligible amount of sludge. It has become a
cost-effective and sustainable way to treat ammonium-
rich wastewater at a higher temperature and low COD/N

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ratio, however, the doubling time of Anammox bacteria,
usually reported between 11 and 17 d and biomass
washout report from the SBR and MBBR applications
resulting in long periods of start-up and failures process
recovery. Besides that, when applied to mainstream WW
the process has also disadvantages of seasonal T and
substrate competition among the main bacterial groups
at high COD/N ratio.
In order to overcome this disadvantages, this thesis
suggests the use of membrane technology for fast
enrichment of AMX bacteria with complete biomass
retention inside the system. The aim of this thesis is to
evaluate the existing MBR technology for
deammonification and design a pilot-scale membrane
bioreactor for deammonification with the best MBR
configuration.

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 Deammonification process

Design &
NO2-
Optimal
AOB NOB operational Inhibtion
parameters
conditions
O2

pH Biomass growth Substrate

7.5-8 style NH4-N/NO2-N
NO2- NH4+ O2 NO2- O2 NO3-
Temperature Reactor Organic matter
NO2-
30°C-35°C configuration COD/N

DO Salinity, heavy
HRT
0.06– 0.8 mgO2/l metals, sulfide
NO3-

AMX HB Inorganic Carbon

NO2- SRT FA/FNA
150-295 mgNaHCO3/l

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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4 major bacterial groups might be presented in the

reactor performing deammonification. AOB/AMX should
be maintain in the reactor, NOB is harmful and should be
suppressed and HB can be managed due to synergetic
relationship with AMX. The substrate competition
between the groups, the optimal parameters of the
reactions (pH, T, DO, IC), the design & operational
conditions (Biomass growth style, Reactor configuration,
HRT,SRT) and the inhibition factors of AMX and AOB
(substrate concentrations) microorganism should be well
understood and explored to ensure an efficiently
nitrogen removal.

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Outline of presentation

ꟾ Deammonification process

ꟾ Membrane process for nitrogen removal

ꟾ MBR for deammonification – Evaluation of studies

ꟾ Pilot-scale DeaMBR

ꟾ Conclusion & Outlook

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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 Membrane process for nitrogen removal
(a) (b)

Membrane Process Membrane

process configuration configuration

Hollow fiber
Diffusive
Immersed (d)
(c)
Flat sheet
Extractive
Dynamic
Sidestream membrane
Biomass
Rejection Membrane configuration
Multitube (a) Hollow Fiber (b) Flat Sheet
(c) Dynamic membrane (d) Multitube
[2,3]

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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MBR is the membrane process used for nitrogen

removal and can be operated in aerobic and
anaerobic mode. It is composed of three
components membrane process, process
configuration and membrane configuration. The
process configuration defines where the membrane
module will be installed (inside or external to
reactor) and lead the choice of the membrane
process. There are three different membrane
process modes: extractive systems, where a
specific contaminants are extracted from the mixed
liquor by using the perm-selectivity of the

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membrane. Diffusive MBR, which use a gas
permeable membrane to span the molecular gas
form into the bioreactor to enhance biotreatment
and use biofilm to filter the influent and the most
common reactor biomass rejection, which use
physical barrier under range of MF to UF to
separate the contaminants from the water. Flat
sheet (FS), hollow fiber (HF), DM, and, rarely,
multitube (MT) are suitable for MBR. FS/HF are
made from intermediate hydrophobic polymers in
the range size of MF to UF. MT can be
manufactured of polymers and ceramic and it is
more expensive compared to HF and FS and DM,
which has larger pores size, is manufactured from
cheap materials such as mesh, non-woven fabric,
and woven filter-cloth and is used as the supporting
material for creating cake layer from biological
material and is used as filtration layer. With an
appropriate carrier thickness DM can obtain a stable
permeate quality, operate under higher flux rates
and prolong the filtration cycle.

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 Membrane process: fouling formation and control

Biological
EPS SMP Particulates Colloids
Feed
floc

Permeability decline
Fouling Clogging
Coating of membrane surface Agglomeration of solids

Reversible Irreversible Sludging Ragging

Physical cleaning Chemical Filling of Blocking of

– relaxation or cleaning membrane membrane
backflushing channels channel inlet [3]

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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During filtration, the flow resistance increases along

the time, which leads to decrease of hydraulic
performance in the MBR system. The permeability
loss can be characterized by the attachments of
soluble microbial products (SMP), extra polymeric
substances (EPS), particulates and colloids onto a
membrane surface through adhesive forces during
filtration, forming a biofilm layer. The accumulation

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forms are classified as fouling or clogging. Where
fouling can be reversible or irreversible according to
the degree of removal of foulants and clogging in
Sludging or Ragging depend on where the solids is
settled in the membrane channel. Various strategies
have been devised to reduce membrane fouling
such as intermittent aeration and cleaning protocols,
however once the clogging happens the membrane
reduces its life time.

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 Outline of presentation

ꟾ Deammonification process

ꟾ Membrane process for nitrogen removal

ꟾ MBR for deammonification – Evaluation of studies

ꟾ Pilot-scale DeaMBR

ꟾ Conclusion & Outlook

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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An analysis of publications that use MBR for deammonification was conducted

and returned thirty-two DeaMBR concepts on a laboratory-scale with several
wastewater characteristics. The applications focus on AMX enrichment and
nitrogen removal.

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 MBR for deammonification – Evaluation of studies

AMX Enrichment Biomass Rejection - NF/UF/MF

Dynamic Membrane - DM
Deammonification process

PN/AMX reactor
Diffusive - GP (CH4)

PN reactor Diffusive - GP (CH4) + Biomass

rejection UF
Extractive MBR
AMX reactor

AMX/DAMO reactor
Fouling
Limitation formation
0 2 4 6 8 10
Number of studies

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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AMX enrichment applications operate in anaerobic

mode to accelerate the start-up process and to
reproduce AMX bacteria to be transferred to other
reactors.
Nitrogen removal processes can operate in aerobic
mode to perform deammonification in single-stage
reactor or to perform partial nitrification reaction in
two-stage system or can operate in anaerobic mode
in two-stage system to perform AMX reaction or the
partnership between AMX/DAMO (denitrifying
anaerobic methane oxidation) process, where
DAMO consortium convert the subproduct of AMX

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reaction nitrate to nitrite and the accumulate nitrite
into nitric oxide.
The studies reported five different membrane
process: Biorej(HF-FS), Biorej and diffusive (DM),
Diffusive with methane permeation, 2 membrane
process inside of one reactor and extractive reactor,
the last to mostly applied for AMX enrichment.
The studies report start-up period between 3-6
months, and AMX as the main bacterial group inside
the reactor except for the PN applications. However,
the presence of the fouling was always mentioned
as limitation of the system in different degree
variating according the reactor configuration and
operating parameters.
20 configurations were considered to evaluate the
performance of the MBR technology for
deammonification: single-stage reactor (AeMBR-
PN/AMX and MABR-PN/AMX configuration), two-
stage reactor AMX and AMX/DAMO (AnMBR-AMX
and MABR-AMX/DAMO configuration).

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 DeaMBR for nitrogen removal – Evaluation of studies

100.00
Single-stage
Nitrogen removal efficiency

Other technologies
90.00 NRE 85% - 91%
AeMBR system higher NRE than MABR
80.00
NRE (%)

70.00

60.00 Two-stage
NRE 83% - 99,9%
50.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 AMX/DAMO partnership almost 100% NRE
Influent
(TNmg/l)

PN/AMX-AeMBR PN/AMX-MABR AMX-AnMBR AMX/DAMO-MABR

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Evaluating the NRE performance of 20 selected

configuration in different concentrations of N in the
influent was possible to deducted that the single-
stage configurations show average nitrogen removal
efficiency between 85% - 91% and two-stage
configurations between 83% to almost 100%. Those
results are similar to better when compared to
available technologies NRE ~ 90%.
Besides that, Biorej reactr in aerobic mode has
higher NRE than diffusive reactors to perform single
stage, which means that suspended growth style for
this configuration is better.

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Two-stage reactors performing partnership
AMX/DAMO reaction show almost 100% NRE,
demonstrating that reducing the nitrate
accumulation in an AMX reactor could increase the
final efficiency of the Anammox reaction

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 DeaMBR for nitrogen removal – Evaluation of studies

100.00
Suspeded AMX growth style
90.00
Nitrogen removal efficiency

Biomass rejection reactors

80.00
NRE (%)

70.00

60.00
Attached AMX growth style

50.00 DM based reactors

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Diffusive reactors - MABR
Influent
(TNmg/l)

Suspended Attached

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Doing the same comparison but analyzing the AMX

grow style. Suspended AMX biomass growth style
has lower NRE than attached AMX biomass growth
style, which has a trending average NRE of 90%. It
means that an attached biomass growth system can
increase the activity of AMX bacteria. Also, this
configuration can absorb some variations related to
the nitrogen load during the long-term operation.

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11
Outline of presentation

ꟾ Deammonification process

ꟾ Membrane process for nitrogen removal

ꟾ MBR for deammonification – Evaluation of studies

ꟾ Pilot-scale DeaMBR

ꟾ Conclusion & Outlook

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR

Influent selection Selecting Membrane Operational

DeaMBR design strategies
DeaMBR variants configuration

DeaMBR

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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In order to define the best configuration, the four

step methodogy was applied: Firstly, the influent
must be selected to identify the wastewater
characteristics and limiting factors that should be
considered in analyzing the membrane.

Secondly, the DeaMBR variants should be

formulated and evaluated.

Thirdly, the membrane design is calculated to

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identify the amount of membrane required to treat
the influent and air scoring volume to control fouling
on the membrane surface. Finally, the operating
strategies for set-up, start-up, and long-term
operation are selected.

A-stage effluent was assumed as feedwater for the

mainstream deammonification application in this
study, based on the possibility of creating more eco-
friendly WWTPs and the low COD/N ratio present in
this stream.

12L/h and reactors of 200L

D UE To the complex interaction between the

different biological processes, a correct process
design for nitrogen removal can only be obtained
through dynamic simulations using IWA ASM

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models. , but a simulation of the biological system is
not within the scope of the thesis, the biological
design was excluded from the pilot-scale design.

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR

Roadmap

Single-AeMBR-Immersed- FS
Variant
Single-stage AeMBR Immersed FS

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Roadmap was formulated to build DeaMBR

configuration. ADeaMBR concept is a combination
of a component from each colored block. Excluding
extractive process, MT membrane module and the
partnership AMO/DAMO, it was formulated 33
concepts.

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR

Parameters control:
Parameters Regulation of the factors influencing the performance of the system
Control
Biomass Two-stage configuration
population

Biomass population:
Fouling
The capacity of the reactor to retain the AOB and AMX
Phenomena
Immersed AeMBR and Immersed AnMBR

Fouling phenomena:
The susceptibility of fouling and clogging to affect the membrane

DeaMBR The possible cleaning protocols to prolong the filtration cycle

Hollow fiber membrane and Dynamic membrane
Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy
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three criteria was applied in ascending order to

reduce the number of variants to a single option.
Parameters control, Biomass population and fouling
phenomena.
Two-stage configuration: individual control and optimization of reactions, reduce the
impact of flutuations in the AMX bacteria
Immersed: less stress applied in the bacteria.
Aeration mode biomass rejection: phisical barrier and suspended growth style
facilitate wash-out of NOB
Anaerobic mode biomass rejection: good condition for AMX metabolism, can
promote attached growth style, which provide microenvironment to protect AMX
bacteria activity from temperture and substrate flutuations
HF: high density/low cost/ accept vigorous cleaning protocols
DM: Cheap materials, recirculation of N to control biofilm thickness

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR
permeate
Parameter Unit Value
Model: HF Zenon ZWD500D – PVDF pore 0.04μm PN reactor influent
Average membrane flux, J LMH 10 [3]

Specific aeration demand, SADm Nm³/h/m² 0.54

Membrane área, Am m² 1.2
Minimum membrane tank volume, Vm m³ 0.006
Membrane aeration rate, QAm m³/h 324
Oxygen transferred by membrane, Mm kgO2/d 35.28

Model: Saatifil nylon mesh PN 52/32 –pore 0.52μm AMX reactor

Average membrane flux, Jamx LMH 5 [6]
[7]
Specific aeration demand, SADmamx N ³/h/m² 0.100
Membrane área amx, Amamx m² 2.4
Minimum membrane tank volume, Vmamx m³ 0.032
Membrane aeration rate amx, Qamx m³/h 120 [4]
Nitrogen transferred by membrane, Mamx kgN2/d 42.53
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The HF membrane Zenon ZWD500D made of PVDF was chosen to perform

partial nitrification in the first stage. For the AMX reactor, the polyamide/nylon
mesh Saatifil PN 52/32 was selected to develop the DM layer. 10 LMH has
been chosen conservatively as average design flux for HF - Zenon membrane
and 5 LMH for Nylon mesh has been chosen.

Before being installed in the reactor, the nylon mesh should be sewed over the
filtration module to complete the DM-support configuration. According to MENG
et al. (2014), a set of five modules provided a total surface area of 0.23 m2 and
occupied a volume of 3.12 m³. The modularity of the set allows achieving the
membrane area required for filtration in the DeaMBR pilot-scale.

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During operation, the water and nitrogenous species
must pass through the AMX biofilm and nylon
material, ensuring more exposure of the influent to
the bacteria, consequently higher nitrogen removal
and less wash-out of AMX biomass.

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR

AMX Retention Balance of AOB NOB/HB

Fouling control
and AMX suppression

• Attached cultivation • Oxygen limitation • Transient anoxia • Intermittent air scoring

• Inoculation of seed sludge operation • Real-time aeration rate • Recirculation produced N2

• Long SRT • Nitrogen loads rates • FNA inhibition • Backflushing

• Recovery cleaning

• Granular cultivation • Reduces organic matter • Short SRT NOB • Relaxation

• Introduction intermediate • Augmentation suppression • Brushing

substances • Reduces C/N ratio • Maintenance cleaning

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Approaches to overcome the instabilities during set-

up, start-up, and long-term operation of DeaMBR
are essential for a successful implementation of
mainstream deammonification at pilot-scale.
There are four main aspects to take in
consideration. The highlight strategies are
suggested to be implemented in the pilot-scale and
the other are the strategies available in the
literature.

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Pilot-scale DeaMBR

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Outline of presentation

ꟾ Deammonification process

ꟾ Membrane process for nitrogen removal

ꟾ MBR for deammonification – Evaluation of studies

ꟾ Pilot-scale DeaMBR

ꟾ Conclusion & Outlook

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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 Conclusion & Outlook
ꟾ DeaMBR has technical merits (NRE of 83-94%) to be implemented on large scale, however membrane fouling is a limitation

ꟾ The DeaMBR configuration should be selected according to a specific application

ꟾ Attached growth style are suitable for AMX reactor and suspended growth style is suitable for PN and single-stage system

ꟾ Hollow fiber and flat-sheet membrane show similar efficient nitrogen removal, but shorter filtration cycles than DM

Mathematical model based on the ASM1 model to simulate the biological interactions of the pilot-scale

Investigation of fouling phenomena in DeaMBR (composition, mechanisms and control)

Explore partnership between AMX/DAMO to enhance nitrogen removal, especially in mainstream wastewater

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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All in all, the use of MBR technology for deammonification has proved to have
technical merits to be implemented on a large scale in mainstream and
sidestream wastewater. DeaMBR can successfully retain biomass and be
used as a tool to balance the biomass inside the reactor. However, fouling
control strategies must be carefully considered in large scale applications.
The efficiency of the filtration process in a DeaMBR is determined by the
interactions between biomass, wastewater, applied process conditions, and
membrane selection. Implemented strategies for preventing and removing
membrane fouling without disturbing the bacteria activity is of vital importance

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 References
[1] Tang, C.-J., Duan, C.-S., Yu, C., Song, Y.-X., Chai, L.-Y., Xiao, R., Wei, Z., & Min, X.-B. (2017). Removal of nitrogen from wastewaters by anaerobic ammonium
oxidation (ANAMMOX) using granules in upflow reactors. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 15(2), 311–328. [Link]
[2] Zhu, Y., Cao, L., Wang, Y. (2019): Characteristics of a Self-Forming Dynamic Membrane Coupled with a Bioreactor in Application of Anammox Processes.
Environmental science & technology. 53 (22), p. 13158–13167. DOI: 10.1021/[Link].9b04314.
[3] JUDD, S., JUDD, C. (2011): The MBR book Principles and applications of membrane bioreactors for water and wastewater treatment. 2nd ed. Aufl.
Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, Burlington, MA. ISBN 978-0-08-096682-3.
[4] MENG, F., SU, G., HU, Y., LU, H., HUANG, L.-N., CHEN, G.-H. (2014): Improving nitrogen removal in an ANAMMOX reactor using a permeable reactive biobarrier.
Water research. 58, p. 82–91. DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2014.03.049..
[5] SUBTIL, E. L., SILVA, M. V., LOTTO, B. A., MORETTO, M. R. D., MIERZWA, J. C. (2019): Pilot-scale investigation on the feasibility of simultaneous nitrification and
denitrification (SND) in a continuous flow single-stage membrane bioreactor. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 32, p. 100995. DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2019.100995.
[6] SAATI S.P.A. : Products Technical textilles filtration. 07.01.2021Saati S.p.A.[Link]
polyamide_4.pdfTechnical textilles filtrationProductsProductsSaati S.p.A. – Products. Available online in[Link]
saatifil-polyamide_4.pdf, Access in: 07.01.2021.
[7] Ersahin, M. E., Ozgun, H., Dereli, R. K., Ozturk, I., Roest, K., van Lier, J. B. (2012): A review on dynamic membrane filtration: materials, applications and future
perspectives. Bioresource technology. 122, p. 196–206. DOI: 10.1016/[Link].2012.03.086.

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Thank you for
your attention!

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 Questions ?
Contact:

Camila Correa da Costa e Silva

[Link]@[Link]/ milacccs@[Link]

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Deammonification in wastewater treatment
Sidestream treatment - Established technology Mainstream treatment - Emerging technology

Low loaded activated sludge Clarifier High loaded

Primary Enhanced activated
Effluent Effluent sludge Clarifier Clarifier
Enhanced
Effluent
PN/A

Dewatering
Biogas Dewatering
Biogas
PN/A
PN/A
Anaerobic Anaerobic
digester digester

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Membrane systems in wastewater treatment
10-10 m 10-9 m 10-8 m 10-7 m 10-6 m 10-5 m 10-4 m 10-3 m

BACTERIA

FREE COLLOIDS ALGUAE SAND

SUGAR
ATOMS
HERBICIDES
PESTICIDES
VIRUSES CELLS HAIR

GRANULAR ACTIVATED
DISSOLVED SALTS CARBON

MEMBRANE FILTRATION SEDIMENT FILTRATION

MACROFILTRATION

MICROFILTRATION

ULTRAFILTRATION

NANOFILTRATION

REVERSE OSMOSIS
[3]
Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy
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 DeaMBR for nitrogen removal – Evaluation of studies

100.00
Nitrogen removal efficiency

90.00

80.00
NRE (%)

70.00

60.00

50.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Influent
(TNmg/l)
Biomass rejection MF/UF/NF Diffusive MBR - GP
Biomass rejection - DM Diffusive MBR -DM

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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Biomass rejection MBR equipped with MF/UF/NF

shows higher NRE in low nitrogen concentrations.
However, if its NRE is compared to the diffusive
MBR or reactor equipped with DM modules, the
efficiency is equal or lower.

The DM system, either diffusive or biomass

rejection, has a stable NRE~ 90% indifferent to the
nitrogen concentration. In contrast, a MABR

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AMX/DAMO reactor operating in a two-stage
configuration has NRE above 90%.

Suspended AMX biomass growth style is usually

applied in biomass rejection MF/UF/NF reactors,
and attached AMX biomass growth style is applied
in DM configurations (biomass rejection or diffusive)
and diffusive MBR.

Suspended AMX biomass growth style has lower

NRE than attached AMX biomass growth style.

Attached growth style shows a trending average

NRE of around 90%. It means that an attached
biomass growth system can increase the activity of
AMX bacteria. Also, this configuration can absorb
some variations related to the nitrogen load during
the long-term operation.

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 DeaMBR for nitrogen removal – Evaluation of studies
Nitrogen removal efficiency

100.00

90.00
NRE (%)

80.00

70.00
100.00
60.00

Nitrogen removal efficiency

50.00 90.00
0 20 40 60 80.00

NRE (%)
Temperature (ºC)
70.00
Biomass rejection MF/UF/NF Diffusive MBR - GP
60.00
Biomass rejection - DM Diffusive MBR -DM
50.00
0 20 40 60 80
HRT (h)

Biomass rejection MF/UF/NF Diffusive MBR - GP

Biomass rejection - DM Diffusive MBR -DM

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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If reactor temperature is considered, diffusive MBR

with gas permeation and co-cultures AMX-DAMO
can still produce NRE above 90% even in low
temperatures. The higher performance of MBfR
might be possible because of the robustness of the
biofilm and the synergic relationship between
A MX / D A M O mi c r o o r g a n i s ms . T h i s t y p e o f
membrane system has an increasing trend in its

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performance when the temperature is getting closer
to the optimal temperature for cultivating AMX
bacteria.

The DM system has a stable performance NRE~

90% between 25º-35ºC. The studies have not
reported adaptation of AMX at low temperature in
the DM system, however, this might have potential
since this configuration allows AMX biomass growth
in the attached style.

Biomass rejection reactors MF/UF/NF show lower

nitrogen removal performance efficiency up to 90%
even if it operates at an optimal AMX cultivation
temperature.

Operating procedures above HRT of 50 hours are

not suitable for the DeaMBR process neither in a
biomass rejection reactor or diffusive MBR.

Diffusive MBR–DM based has average NRE

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performance between 85-90% when applied to an
HRT up to 20 hours and biomass rejection-DM has
an NRE of 90% in HRT of 10h and a decreasing
performance trend for longer HRT.

Biomass rejection MF/UF/NF data show an

increasing trend in its NRE from short HRT up to 50
hours.

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR
Expansion of energy production
A-stage
effluent Effluent with low COD/N ratio

Temperature 14°C – 19°C

Parameter Unit Value

Flow rate
12l/h Influent NH4-N, NH4-N mgN/l 26.8
Influent NO2-N, NO2-N mgN/l 1.0
Influent NO3-N, NO3-N mgN/l 1.7
Influent Phosphorus, P-tot mgP/l 1.3
Influent Biochemical oxygen demand, BOD mgBOD/l 17.4
Influent Chemical oxygen demand, COD mgCOD/l 62.1
Influent total suspended solids, TSS mgTSS/l 30

[5]

Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy

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The application of the DeaMBR must be chosen

before starting the design calculations. It means that
the feed wastewater must be selected, and limiting
factors should be described.

A-stage effluent was selected to test the application

of DeaMBR at a pilot-scale. The primary motivation
behind looking into mainstream deammonification is
the expansion of energy-production through the

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separation of nitrogen from carbon, provide support
to the on-going paradigm shift from energy-negative
to energy-positive in WWTPs and take advantage of
the low COD/N ratio of this type of feedwater, which
increases the potential use of demmonification.

Required effluent standard of 13 TN-mg/l in

accordance with German regulation and estimated
reactor volume

An example of the feedwater characterization of the

A-stage effluent is given in Table for demonstrating
the concentration of nutrients available in this type
of wastewater.
The parameters described were taken from a 4,000
liters plug-flow granular sludge-based pilot-scale
reactor from WWTP Dokhaven, in Rotterdam, in the
Netherlands. The one-stage pilot-scale reactor
operated continuously for more than ten months at
19ºC, with average N-removal rates of 182 gN/l/d
and COD/N ratio up to 2 (SUBTIL et al., 2019).

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 Pilot-scale DeaMBR
Concept Concept description Concept Concept description

1 Single-AeMBR-Sidestream-FS 18 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Sidestream-FS
2 Single-AeMBR-Sidestream-DM 19 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Sidestream-DM
3 Single-AeMBR-Immersed- HF 20 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-HF-AnMBR-Sidestream-DM
4 Single-AeMBR-Immersed- FS 21 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-HF-AnMBR-Sidestream-FS
5 Single-AeMBR-Immersed- DM 22 Two-MABR-Immersed-GP-HF-AnMBR-Immersed-FS
6 Single-AeMBR-Immersed- HF 23 Two-MABR-Immersed-GP-HF--AnMBR-Immersed-DM
7 Single-AeMBR-Immersed- FS 24 Two-MABR-Immersed-GP-HF--AnMBR-Immersed-HF
8 Single-MABR-Immersed- GP- HF 25 Two-MABR-Immersed-GP-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-FS
9 Single-MABR-Immersed- GP- FS 26 Two-MABR-Immersed-GP-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-DM
10 Single-MAMBR-Immersed-GP- HF +HF 27 Two-MABR-Immersed-GP-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-HF
11 Single-MAMBR-Immersed-GP- HF +FS 28 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-HF-AnMBR-Immersed-FS
12 Single-MAMBR-Immersed-GP- FS +HF 29 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-HF-AnMBR-Immersed-DM
13 Single-MAMBR-Immersed-GP- FS +FS 30 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-HF
14 Two-MABR-Immersed-HF-AnMBR-Sidestream-FS 31 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-FS
15 Two-MABR-Immersed-HF-AnMBR-Sidestream-DM 32 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-HF
16 Two-MABR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Sidestream-FS 33 Two-AeMBR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Immersed-DM
17 Two-MABR-Immersed-FS-AnMBR-Sidestream-DM
Master Sustainable Management – Water and Energy
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In this study, some premises were defined to limit

the number of variants for the pilot-scale
deammonification system.

 Excluded pathways:

 Extractive MBR was disregarded because its

use is for AMX enrichment and not for nitrogen

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 removal, which is the focus of the pilot-scale;
 MT membrane module was disregarded
because its application in deammonification has
been not reported in any reviewed studies;
 The AMX/DAMO partnership was disregarded
even with promising results reported in several
reviewed studies because this partnership is not
included in the scope of this study.

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