Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian)

Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian)

Application of Membrane Bioreactor Method for Removal of Pollutants from Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Ali Hajrasouliha 1
Majid Hosseinzadeh 2
1 B.Sc. Graduate in Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 Assist. Prof., Dept. of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
10.22093/wwj.2026.566014.3535
Abstract
Given the intensification of water scarcity and increasing water demand, the reuse of treated industrial wastewater can be considered as a sustainable water resource. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a lab-scale membrane bioreactor for improving the quality of the effluent from the industrial wastewater treatment plant of Shokouhieh Industrial Town for reuse purposes. The study focused on the simultaneous analysis of suspended solids removal, organic load reduction, and the limitation of the process in reducing dissolved salts, in order to evaluate the reuse potential of the effluent from the perspective of final end-use water quality. A plexiglass reactor with an effective volume of 32 L was operated continuously for 35 days, and the influent flow rate was set at 4 L/h (HRT≈8 h). Solids separation was carried out using a flat-sheet ultrafiltration membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 150 kDa. During the operation period, influent and effluent samples were collected, and COD, TSS and TDS were measured according to standard methods. The results showed that the average COD decreased from 321 to 68 mg/L, corresponding to 79% removal, and the average TSS decreased from 99 to 2 mg/L, corresponding to 98% removal. In addition, TDS decreased from 1134 to 960 mg/L, corresponding to an approximately 15% reduction, which is consistent with the inherent limitation of UF membranes in removing dissolved salts. Therefore, in applications where further reduction of dissolved salts is required, complementary processes such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis are recommended. Overall, the studied MBR showed a high capability for suspended solids removal and organic load reduction and, considering the quality requirements of the intended end use, can be regarded as a reliable option for some reuse applications. The 35-day monitoring period demonstrated the performance trend of the system under real wastewater conditions, and the results can provide a basis for the design and evaluation of longer-term pilot-scale experiments in future studies.
Keywords
Membrane Bioreactor
Ultrafiltration
Industrial Wastewater
Reuse
Membrane Fouling
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Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab (in persian)
Volume 36, Issue 4 - Serial Number 159
November and December 2025
Pages 79-96