Abstract
Pharmaceuticals present in wastewater effluents threaten the water environment. Conventional technologies show limited removal of organic micropollutants. Methanotrophic bacteria can degrade many organic micropollutants, while allowing nutrient recovery. We grew a methanotrophic enrichment at three CH4 loading rates in a membrane aerated bioreactor (MABR). Biomass productivity increased with CH4 loading, with a maximum productivity of 372 mg VSS·L-1·d-1. At highest CH4 loading 71% and 36% of nitrogen and phosphate were removed and sulfamethoxazole and 1H-benzotriazole were removed at rates of 3.58 L·g-1·d-1 and 5.42 L·g-1·d-1, respectively, outperforming activated sludge and MBBR systems. The MABR showed potential as a polishing step for secondary effluent. Nutrients were removed via assimilation into microbial protein. Average protein content was 39%, which is in the low end for methanotrophs. However, given the amino acid profile, biomass would be suitable as plant bio-stimulant. The MABR off-gas was well below 5% (v/v) CH4, avoiding explosion risk.
Original language | English |
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Publication date | 2022 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Event | 12th Micropol & Ecohazard Conference - University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain Duration: 6 Jun 2022 → 10 Jun 2022 Conference number: 12 |
Conference
Conference | 12th Micropol & Ecohazard Conference |
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Number | 12 |
Location | University of Santiago de Compostela |
Country/Territory | Spain |
City | Santiago de Compostela |
Period | 06/06/2022 → 10/06/2022 |
Keywords
- Hydrophobic membranes
- Methane oxidizing bacteria
- Microbial protein
- Organic micropollutants