Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate changes in the TN and TP removal efficiencies, depending on whether or not a settling process is applied, in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process with a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Nutrient removal was considered in terms of developing an advanced water treatment system for ships in accordance with water quality standards set forth by 227(64). For these purposes, the TN and TP concentrations in the inflow and outflow water were measured to calculate the TN and TP removal efficiencies, depending on whether or not a settling process was used. Water discharged from a bathroom, which was constructed for the experiment, was used as the raw water. The experiment that included a settling process was conducted twice, and the operating conditions were: aeration for 90 min, settling for 30 min, agitation for 15 min, and settling for 15 min for one experiment; and aeration for 150 min, settling for 45 min, agitation for 15 min, and settling for 15 min in the other. Operating conditions for the experiment that did not include a settling process were: aeration for 180 min and agitation for 60 min. The concentration of the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) in the reactor was 3,500 mg/L, while the aeration rate was 121 L/min and the water production rate was 1.5 L/min. For the two experiments where a settling process was applied, the average TN removal efficiencies were 44.39% and 41.05%, and the average TP removal efficiencies were 47.85% and 46.04%. For the experiment in which a settling process was not applied, the average TN removal efficiency was 65.51%, and the average TP removal efficiency was 52.51%. Although the final nutrient levels did not satisfy the water quality standards of MEPC 227(64), the TN and TP removal efficiencies were higher when a settling process was not applied.
