Performance Evaluation of A/O Membrane Bioreactor System in the Effective Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: the Effect of SRT and Flux Rate

The effect of SRT and flux rate on the removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have serious adverse effects on human and wildlife endocrine systems, by the laboratory scale submerged flat-sheet anoxic/oxic MBR system (A/O MBR), was investigated. The A/O MBR system was operated for four different sludge holding times (SRT: 10 days, 15 days, 25 days, and 30 days) and three different fluxes’ (13 L/m²·h, 18 L/m²·h, and 26 L/m²·h) removal of EDCs (carbamazepine, bisphenol A, methylparaben, ethylparaben, 17α-ethinylestradiol, β-estradiol, estrone, tonalide, galaxolide, and triclosan) was investigated. The A/O MBR system ensures higher removal of all EDCs (> 86%) except for carbamazepine (34%) at high SRT (30d) and low flux (13 L/m²·h). SRT and flux rate could be vital operating parameters for the removal of carbamazepine, ethylparaben, triclosan, and 17α-ethinylestradiol; however, there might not be a significant effect on the removal of bisphenol A (> 90%), methylparaben (> 91), β-estradiol (> 99%), estrone (> 99%), tonalide (> 99%), and galaxolide (> 99%). The removal of ethylparaben, 17α-ethinylestradiol, triclosan, and carbamazepine with A/O MBR at high sludge age (30 day) and low flux (13 L/m²·h) were 93.3%, 96.9%, 86.9%, and 34.8%, respectively. When the SRT was reduced to 10 days, and the flux was increased to 26 L/m²·h, the removal efficiency of ethylparaben, 17α-ethinylestradiol, triclosan, and carbamazepine decreased to 72.7%, 77.2%, 52.4%, and 1.06%, respectively. It found that SRT and flux rate could be vital parameters for the removal of carbamazepine, ethylparaben, triclosan, and 17α-ethinylestradiol; however, there might not be a significant effect on the removal of bisphenol A, methylparaben, β-estradiol, estrone, tonalide, and galaxolide.