OPTIMIZATION OF OILY WASTEWATER MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR TREATMENT: PILOT TO FULL SCALE RESULTS

In the early 1990s, the General Motors Corporation (GM) adopted the use of the membrane biological reactor (MBR) process configuration for full scale treatment of manufacturing plant wastewaters in the US and internationally. Although the results and experience from operation of 4, full scale MBR systems for approximately 3 to 9 years have confirmed the major advantages of the technology, certain operating or design issues led to the development of a modified system referred to as the MBR-aerobic digester process configuration. Pilot plant studies were completed over the period from 1998 through 2000 in support of development of the modified system. A full scale MBR-aerobic digester system began operation in late 2000. The results from the pilot plant studies, and operation of the full scale system for approximately 5 months, indicate the modified system significantly reduces the cost of waste solids disposal without compromising system performance, relative to the conventional MBR system.