Low-temperature Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Sustainable Domestic Wastewater Treatment

PI：Lutgarde Raskin Proposal number：1133793可持续水管理对公用事业公司越来越重要，并正在推动在不影响污水质量的情况下减少生活污水(DWW)处理中的能源消耗和残渣产生。厌氧膜生物反应器(ANMBR)将厌氧生物处理和膜分离结合在一个单一的过程中，允许产生甲烷(一种可再生能源)，并且相对于传统的DWW处理，产生的残留物只有一小部分，并且大大节省了能源。此外，由于易于扩展，ANMBR在集中式或分散式废水处理中提供了使用的灵活性，可以在环境温度下运行，尽管对厌氧处理的传统观点是这样的，并且有可能满足美国环保局S的处理标准。简而言之，使用ANMBR技术的DWW处理潜在地代表了一种更可持续的DWW处理范例。这项拟议的研究将通过完成三个开发的目标和相关任务来评估ANMBR技术在实验室规模的废水处理系统中的应用：(1)小试ANMBR的运行以进行优化、验证稳定性并增加对工艺的了解；(2)开发膜污染和处理模型以形成统一的ANMBR模型；以及(3)利用生命周期评估、生命周期成本计算和多准则决策分析来对ANMBR的实施提出设计建议，以便在满足美国环保局S的处理标准的同时，将经济和环境影响降至最低。这些目标将回答以下问题：在保持适当的处理性能的同时，ANMBR中的运行温度和水力停留时间的下限是多少？微生物群落结构如何对运行变化做出反应？相关的系统稳定性如何？能否建立一个统一膜污染和生物处理的模型，准确地预测ANMBR在运行变化时的性能？最后，采用对经济和环境负责的方法，在哪里、何时、为什么以及如何实施ANMBR技术？将以基础研究和广泛研究相结合的方式来研究这项用于DWW处理的ANMBR技术。该项目的PI是来自密歇根大学的Raskin博士、Skerlos博士和Love博士，他们将结合他们在环境生物技术、微生物生态学、机械工程、膜科学、工业生态学和水质过程工程领域的丰富经验和互补优势。我们将与邓迪污水处理厂(密歇根州邓迪)密切合作，并与一系列其他公用事业公司和咨询公司互动。这项研究代表了一种新的战略，有可能极大地提高目前使用ANMBR技术的DWW处理实践的可持续性。拟议的研究代表了一种综合的方法，利用微生物分析、系统建模和生命周期评估等工具，将增加我们对ANMBR过程的科学理解，同时促进该领域的进一步研究。与顾问和公用事业公司的合作将加强ANMBR试点和全面实施的可能性。这项工作的其他更广泛的影响包括：(1)通过本科生参与研究将研究与教育结合起来，(2)将研究成果纳入私人投资机构教授的课程，(3)技术转让，包括在各种会议上组织关于ANMBR应用于DWW处理的研讨会，以及(4)通过会议报告、同行评议的期刊文章以及研讨会和专题讨论会报告来传播研究成果。

PI: Lutgarde RaskinProposal Number: 1133793Sustainable water management is increasingly important for utilities and is driving efforts to reduce energy consumption and residuals production in domestic wastewater (DWW) treatment without compromising effluent quality. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) combine anaerobic biological treatment and membrane separation in a single process allowing for methane generation (a renewable energy source), and, relative to conventional DWW treatment, generate a fraction of the residuals and substantial energy savings. Additionally, AnMBRs provide the flexibility of use in centralized or decentralized wastewater treatment due to easy scalability, may be operated at ambient temperatures despite conventional views on anaerobic treatment, and have the potential to meet U.S. EPA?s treatment standards. In short, DWW treatment using AnMBR technology potentially represents a more sustainable DWW treatment paradigm. The proposed research will evaluate AnMBR technology for DWW treatment in labscale systems through completion of three developed objectives with associated tasks: (1) operation of a bench-scale AnMBR for optimization, demonstration of stability, and increased process understanding; (2) development of membrane fouling and treatment models to formulate a unified AnMBR model; and (3) utilization of life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and multi-criteria decision analysis to make design recommendations regarding AnMBR implementation, such that economic and environmental impacts are minimized, while meeting U.S. EPA?s treatment standards. These objectives will answer the following questions: What are the lower limits for the operational temperature and hydraulic retention time in the AnMBR while maintaining adequate treatment performance? How does the microbial community structure respond to operational changes and what is the associated system stability? Can a model unifying membrane fouling and biological treatment be generated that accurately predicts AnMBR performance across operational changes? Finally, where, when, why, and how can AnMBR technology be implemented using an economically and environmentally responsible approach? This AnMBR technology for DWW treatment will be studied in a way that incorporates both fundamental and broad level research. The PIs of this project are Drs. Raskin, Skerlos, and Love from the University of Michigan, who will combine their extensive experience and complementary strengths from the fields of environmental biotechnology, microbial ecology, mechanical engineering, membrane science, industrial ecology, and water quality process engineering. We will work closely with the Dundee WastewaterTreatment Plant (Dundee, MI) and interact with a range of other utilities and consulting firms.This research represents a novel strategy with the potential to greatly increase the sustainability of current DWW treatment practices using AnMBR technology. The proposed research represents a comprehensive approach utilizing tools such as microbial analyses, system modeling, and life cycle assessment that will increase our scientific understanding of AnMBR processes while stimulating further research in the field. Collaborations with consultants and utilities will strengthen the likelihood of pilot- and full-scale AnMBR implementation. Additional broader impacts from this work include: (1) integration of research and education through involvement of undergraduate students in research, (2) incorporation of research findings in courses taught by the PIs, (3) technology transfer including the organization of workshops on AnMBR application to DWW treatment at various conferences, and (4) dissemination of research results through conference presentations, peer-reviewed journal articles, and seminar and symposium presentations.