Micro Pollutant Removal Using MBR Technology with Powdered Activated Carbon Addition in Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Discharges from municipal wastewater plants are seen as a major source of micro pollutants (MPs) in the aquatic environment. One cost effective way of removing this class of pollutants from wastewater is through the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC). The simultaneous addition of PAC to the biological tank of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) is an emerging innovative process scheme for MP removal. Advantages of this process include its simplicity , stability, overall treatment cost and the overall removal efficiency. Long term tests were conducted in Switzerland and Canada to evaluate the removal of MPs by PAC addition in the MBR. Results showed that with the addition of as low as 10 mg/L of PAC and with the membrane system operated under typical conditions, greater than 80% removal of MPs was achieved with no impact on membrane performance or life.