WO2023128887A1

WO2023128887A1 - Anaerobic bioreactor system

Info

Publication number: WO2023128887A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/051545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eyüp DEBİK; Neslihan MANAV DEMİR; Esra ÇELİK
Original assignee: Yildiz Tekni̇k Üni̇versi̇tesi̇; Yildiz Teknoloji̇ Transfer Ofi̇si̇ Anoni̇m Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2021-12-28
Filing date: 2021-12-28
Publication date: 2023-07-06

Abstract

The invention relates to an anaerobic bioreactor system that provides the treatment of wastewater by combining anaerobic baffled biological treatment and dynamic membrane filtration systems.

Description

ANAEROBIC BIOREACTOR SYSTEM

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an anaerobic bioreactor system for the treatment of wastewater by combining anaerobic baffled biological treatment and dynamic membrane filtration systems.

State of the Art of the Invention (Prior Art)

Membrane filtration systems, which are used in combination with anaerobic baffled reactors currently available in the market, restrict the utility of the systems due to factors such as membrane fouling, investment cost, low flux, energy required for clogging control and cost spent. The bioreactor developed with the invention provides both the treatment and the filtration of wastewater. Previously, anaerobic baffled reactor was combined with conventional membrane processes and applied in wastewater treatment. Membrane fouling, which limits the application of membrane processes, and low membrane flux due to clogging, high filtration resistance, high energy consumption required for fouling control, increased operating and maintenance costs are the most important difficulties encountered in the operation of membranes.

EP2558421B1, which was found as a result of the research made in the current art, is related to a system that includes an anaerobic treatment system and especially an integrated two-stage anaerobic digester system. US5746919A is related to the treatment system including thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic reactors.

As distinct from the current art, there is a dynamic membrane in our invention. Dynamic membrane (DM) technology has been developed as an alternative method for these problems and provides a solution. The dynamic membrane functions as a filtration by forming the cake layer on a porous support material instead of conventional membranes. Less costly and simple design as support material instead of conventional membranes for DM layer formation; textile products (woven or non-woven fabric), polymeric products (plastic etc.) and metal screens are used. By using support materials compared to conventional membranes (UF/MF membrane), high membrane costs are avoided. With this invention, fundamental problems associated with the use of conventional membranes will be overcome by using dynamic membranes, and a new treatment system will have been developed by incorporating an anaerobic baffled reactor. Thus, the main feature of the invention is that it involves the use of support material such as textile (woven or non-woven), polymeric products (plastic etc.) and metal for filtration with anaerobic baffled reactor.

Brief Description and Objects of the Invention

In the current art, membrane filtration used in combination with anaerobic baffled reactors limits the usability of the systems due to factors such as membrane fouling, investment cost, low flux, energy required for clogging control and cost spent. Dynamic membrane technology has been developed and applied to solve these problems that limit operating conditions. Support materials are used for dynamic membrane layer formation, and the main difference that distinguishes support materials from conventional membranes is the pore size. The pore size of the support materials is larger than that of conventional membranes, and support materials with a pore size range of 5 - 500 pm are used. The most obvious advantage of the support materials used in dynamic membrane layer formation is that it eliminates the need for costly conventional membranes such as UF/MF. When the DM layer formed on the support material thickens and reaches high filtration resistances, it is easily and practically cleaned and re-forms on the surface of the support material in a short time after the cleaning process. Thus, the maintenance costs required for membrane cleaning are largely avoided. This invention enables a new treatment system to be obtained by combining dynamic membrane technology with an anaerobic baffled reactor, using support materials with a simple design and cheaper than conventional membranes in terms of both investment and operating costs.

Description of References

1-Reactor base

2-Inlet pipe

3-Outlet pipe

4-Passage gap 5-Upper baffle

6-Lower baffle

7-Anaerobic zone 70- Active zone

8-Membrane module

9-Filtration zone

10-Reactor ceiling

11-Biogas outlet pipe

12-Biogas return pipe

13-Treated water sample port

14- Sludge discharge port

15-Diffusers

16-Filtration zone ceiling

100- System

Figures Describing the Invention

Figure 1. Anaerobic Bioreactor System Diagram

Detailed Description of the Invention

The anaerobic bioreactor system (100), provided with a wastewater inlet pipe (2) and a wastewater outlet pipe (3), is a bioreactor system used for the treatment of wastewater. The reactor consists of 2 compartments. Depending on the number of compartments, the last compartment is the membrane (filtration) zone (9) where the membrane module (8) is placed submerged, while the previous compartments are the anaerobic zone (7). By means of upper baffles (5) and lower baffles (6), moving forward of the wastewater fed to the reactor from the inlet to the outlet through the reactor is provided as upstream and downstream. First, the wastewater entering the reactor starts its movement from the water passage gap (4) located between the reactor wall and the upper baffle (5). Afterwards, the wastewater is treated through the substrate/biomass contact in the zone defined as the active zone (70) between the upper baffle (5) and the lower baffle (6). The wastewater, of which passing is provided by means of the upper baffles (5) and the lower baffles (6), is treated in the anaerobic (active) zone or zones (70). After the treatment process, the wastewater passes through the water passage gap (4) between the lower baffle (6) and the upper baffle (5) to the filtration zone (9). The filtration process is carried out by means of the dynamic membrane module (8) used as a support material in the filtration zone (9). The dynamic membrane module (8) can be taken out of the reactor from the filtration zone ceiling (16), if necessary (in case of cleaning, changing, etc.). The filtered permeate water is drawn from the reactor via the outlet wastewater pipe (3). The biogas formed as a result of the biodegradation of organics in the anaerobic zone is collected through the biogas outlet pipe (11) located on the reactor ceiling (10). A part of the produced biogas is conveyed to the filtration zone (9) by using the gas return pipe (12) and diffusers (15), thus preventing excessive thickening of the dynamic membrane layer formed on the membrane. The biogas conveyed into the reactor is also collected by the biogas outlet pipe (11) located on the reactor ceiling (10). Sludge discharge is provided from the sludge discharge ports (14) in the active zones (70), and samples can be taken from the treated water sample ports (13) located in the active zones (70).

The invention enables the filtration of wastewater, with the integration of the support material module (indicated with 8), located in the filtration zone (indicated with 9) and providing dynamic membrane formation, into the system defined as the anaerobic bioreactor (indicated with 100). By means of the anaerobic bioreactor system (100) according to the invention, anaerobic treatment and filtration of wastewater is provided.

Claims

CLAIMS An anaerobic bioreactor system (100) for the treatment of wastewater, characterized in that; it comprises a reactor consisting of at least two compartments, which consists of combining anaerobic baffled biological treatment and dynamic membrane filtration systems. An anaerobic bioreactor system (100) for the treatment of wastewater according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises a wastewater inlet pipe

(2) and a wastewater outlet pipe

(3), filtration zone (9), wherein the membrane module (8), which is the last compartment, is placed submerged, depending on the number of compartments, anaerobic zone (7), which is the previous compartments, upper baffles (5) and lower baffles (6) providing as the downstream and upstream, the water passage gap

(4) between the lower baffle (6) and the upper baffle (5), filtration zone (9), filtration zone ceiling (16) providing the dynamic membrane module to be taken out of the reactor if necessary, biogas outlet pipe (11) located in the reactor ceiling (10) from inside the reactor for the storage of biogas formed as a result of the biodegradation of organics in the anaerobic zone, gas return pipe (12) and diffusers (15) providing some of the produced biogas is delivered to the filtration zone (9), ports (13) providing to take sample of treated water in active zones (70), and from sludge discharge ports (14) providing sludge discharge in active zones (70). An anaerobic bioreactor system (100) for the treatment of wastewater according to Claim 2, characterized in that; the pore size of the dynamic membrane has a size range of 5 - 500 pm. An anaerobic bioreactor system (100) for the treatment of wastewater according to any of the Claims 1-3, characterized in that; it comprises support materials consisting of any of the dynamic membrane material textile products, polymeric products, and metal sieves. An anaerobic bioreactor system (100) for the treatment of wastewater according to Claim 4, characterized in that; the polymeric products are plastic.

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6. An anaerobic bioreactor system (100) for the treatment of wastewater according to Claim 4, characterized in that; the textile products are woven or non-woven fabrics.

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