Pilot Testing of New Vacuum Rotating Membrane Bioreactor Technology

To avoid contravening European Community beach bathing standards required that the outfall from the Bua wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the Municipality of Varberg, Sweden be extended at considerable cost. Site constraints and the desire to produce a higher quality effluent led the Municipality to consider using membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. In November 2007, a Huber VRM pilot plant was installed at the Bua WWTP and operated through June 2008. The permeate met EEC bathing standards and BOD and TSS values below detection limits. The pilot was taken through a series of test to evaluate the impact of membrane resting period, escalating flux rates, steady state flux rate, and extended elevated flux rates at primarily low temperatures of 9‐11°C. Results are reported in terms of TMP and permeability. Sludge filterability tests were conducted and reported in terms of TTF and residual TOC concentrations.