A new approach to wastewater treatment and water and energy recovery: development of an electrochemical conductive membrane bioreactor (EcMBR) operated under Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification (SND) condition

• Grant number: 16/23684-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: May 01, 2017 - October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Lucas Subtil
• Grantee: Eduardo Lucas Subtil
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Everaldo Carlos Venancio ; José Carlos Mierzwa ; Lucia Helena Gomes Coelho ; Mario Luiz Rodrigues Foco ; Mercia Regina Domingues Moretto ; Pierre Le-Clech ; Wendel Andrade Alves

Abstract

A potential approach for minimizing negative effects of MBR operation under SND condition and, at the same time, overcoming the limitations of the microbial fuel cells (MFC) can be achieved by combining these technologies. However, the incorporation of MFC with the MBRs may increase the complexity of the process, hindering the system operation and maintenance, and making their practical application in wastewater treatment impossible. In this context, the main objective of the proposed research project is to evaluate the use of conductive polymer membrane integrated with MFC as a filtration cathode. The treatment system will be operated under different conditions of dissolved oxygen concentration and ratio Food/Microorganisms. The experiments will analyze the effects of bioelectrochemical process incorporated in the membrane technology on electricity generation, on the hydraulic performance of the membrane system, on foulant reduction and fouling minimization, on the characteristics of the mixed liquor, and on the conversion and removal processes of organic material and nitrogen. In addition, based on the results of the exploratory research, the applicability of the system in wastewater treatment aimed for water reuse will be evaluated. At the end of the study, an energy balance will be performed to verify the potential economic and environmental benefits of the proposed solution. As a result, we expect to develop an innovative hybrid treatment system that enables the recovery and reuse of water with efficient energy and lower fouling propensity, increasing the sustainability of water reuse. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SUBTIL, EDUARDO LUCAS; SILVA, MARINA VICTORETTI; LOTTO, BRUNA ARAUJO; DOMINGUES MORETTO, MERCIA R.; MIERZWA, JOSE CARLOS. 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, v. 32, DEC 2019. (16/23684-0)

FONSECA PIERANGELI, GABRIELLE MARIA; RAGIO, RODRIGO ALMERIA; BENASSI, ROSELI FREDERIGI; GREGORACCI, GUSTAVO BUENO; SUBTIL, EDUARDO LUCAS. Pollutant removal, electricity generation and microbial community in an electrochemical membrane bioreactor during co-treatment of sewage and landfill leachate. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, v. 9, n. 5, OCT 2021. (16/23684-0, 17/10355-1)

SUBTIL, EDUARDO L.; GONCALVES, JAMILE; LEMOS, HUGO G.; VENANCIO, EVERALDO C.; MIERZWA, JOSE CARLOS; DE SOUZA, JULIANA DOS SANTOS; ALVES, WENDEL; LE-CLECH, PIERRE. Preparation and characterization of a new composite conductive polyethersulfone membrane using polyaniline (PANI) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, v. 390, JUN 15 2020. (14/50867-3, 11/16615-9, 17/02317-2, 16/23684-0)

SALCEDO MOYANO, ALVARO JAVIER; DELFORNO, TIAGO PALLADINO; SUBTIL, EDUARDO LUCAS. Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) using a thermoplastic gel as support: pollutants removal and microbial community in a pilot-scale biofilm membrane bioreactor. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY, JUL 2021. (16/23684-0)

LEMOS, HUGO G.; RAGIO, RODRIGO ALMERIA; CONCEICAO, ANA CAROLINA SANTANA; VENANCIO, EVERALDO C.; MIERZWA, JOSE CARLOS; SUBTIL, EDUARDO LUCAS. Assessment of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) for co-treatment of wastewater and landfill leachate (LFL) in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, v. 425, DEC 1 2021. (16/23684-0)