Rapid Start-Up and Excellent Performance of Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor for Treating Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) Wastewater by Using One-Step Feeding Mode

Abstract

The traditional anaerobic treatment process for highly concentrated, toxic, and acidic poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) wastewater faces challenges. In contrast, the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) offers the advantage of robust performance, but the influence of start-up modes has not been under-explored. This study investigated the impact of one-step and stepwise startup (gradual dilution of wastewater) strategies in AnMBR treating PBAT wastewater. The results indicated that the one-step startup group achieved COD removal efficiency of 91.2%±2.7% and methane conversion rate of 234.7±8.5 mLCH4/gCOD, which were 21.7% and 81.8 mL CH4/gCOD respectively higher than those achieved by the stepwise start-up group. Furthermore, the one-step startup led to the reduction of startup time by 10 days and the decrease in the average membrane fouling cycle by 6.6 days. Consequently, the one-step startup method provided a promising approach for the rapid start-up and excellent performance of AnMBR in PBAT wastewater treatment.

Keywords: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor, One-step startup, Stepwise startup, Methane production, Membrane Fouling