Water Science & Technology · 1994 · 28 citations · 0 references
EngineeringBiotechnologyEnvironmental EngineeringHazardous Waste ManagementWaste ManagementWastewater TreatmentBiological Treatment ProcessesBioreaction EngineeringMembrane Bioreactor SystemsMembrane FiltrationWaste TreatmentWastewater BiotreatmentBiological Wastewater TreatmentHeavy Metal TransformationMembrane Bioreactor OperationMembrane Bioreactor ProcessesMembrane Bioreactor TechnologyUltrafiltrationUltrafiltration MembranesWastewater Treatment Membranes
The performance of a membrane bioreactor treating wastewater from a metal transformation industry was compared with the ultrafiltration system at the mill. Toxicity analysis using the microtox and algal tests on the untreated and treated effluents from both systems showed a 130 fold reduction in toxicity due to the ultrafiltration step and a further 10 fold reduction due to the biological step. This resulted in a biomass which must be disposed of as a hazardous waste. In comparison with the present situation, the overall quantity of hazardous waste was reduced by a factor of 3 due to the combination of the bioreactor and the ultrafilters.