Membracon, who provide high-performance bespoke industrial water treatment solutions, have completed an important project in Taiwan, which included measurement of sludge and foulant characteristics from combined pharmaceutical and septic tank effluent.
Based on full-scale MBR membrane modules, Membracon worked in close conjunction with the Department of Environmental Engineering & Science at Chia Nan University.
The 10 m³/d plant in Taiwan has a 10m³ buffer tank, as well as process and membrane tanks, each having a working volume of 8.7m³ – thus providing 42 h HRT – Hydraulic Retention Time (based on two 8.7 m³ process/membrane tanks; 17.4 m³ total at 10 m³/day).
The plant was challenged with wastewater at 16-28˚C, at typically between 800 and 12,000 mg/L COD (chemical oxygen demand) concentration from the combined septic and pharmaceutical tank effluent.
Membracon’s advanced water treatment technologies saw Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) concentration increase from 6,000 to 12,000 over an initial operating period of 80 days. The process then operated at 12,000-17,000 mg/L solids concentration for a further 40 days.
Viscosity was found to vary logarithmically with MLSS over the entire concentration range studied at a mean Sludge Retention Time of 40 days and COD loading of 0.099-6.488 kgCOD/(m³/d).
‘Responsible water management and water security is more important than ever’
Matt Williams, Managing Director at Membracon, commented:
“This project in Taiwan underlines the very high level that we can work to in providing cutting-edge water treatment solutions. Responsible water management and water security is more important than ever. This was a great opportunity to collaborate with a like-minded organisation, where we could show the efficiency and sustainability benefits that we can deliver with our expertise and technologies.”
