Efficient removal of micropollutants in an anaerobic-aerobic two-stage moving bed biofilm reactor coupling with manganese redox cycling

Description

Manganese oxides can degrade organic micropollutants, but the effectiveness is short-lived and therefore continuous micropollutant degradation by manganese oxides is not feasible. In this study, an engineered cycle of manganese reduction followed by oxidation was implemented in two-stage moving bed biofilm reactors (staged MBBR), aiming to continuously replenish manganese oxides for the removal of both nutrients and micropollutants. In the anaerobic reactor, additional MnO2 was reduced to Mn2+ by microbial-mediated reaction with organic matter in the sewage. Then, the reduced Mn2+ was re-oxidised to biogenic manganese oxides (BioMnOx) in the aerobic reactor. Regularly a part of BioMnOx was recycled to the anaerobic reactor for the next round of manganese reduction. Overall, the manganese redox cycling functioned well and BioMnOx was continuously reformed in the aerobic reactor. For micropollutant removal, bezafibrate, clarithromycin, mefenamic acid and sulfamethoxazole were efficiently removed (over 80%) by the staged MBBR in the batch experiment.

Period	20 Apr 2022
Event title	16th Annual Water Research Conference
Event type	Conference
Conference number	16
Location	Frederiksberg, DenmarkShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National