Removal of dimethyl sulfide in a thermophilic membrane bioreactor

Abstract

[Abstract] In this study, the removal of dimethylsulfide was investigated in a flat composite membrane bioreactor (MBR) at elevated temperature (52°C). A composite membrane with a 2 µm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating layer and porous polyvinylidene diflouride (PVDF) support layer was used. The effect of variable operating conditions such as empty bed retention time (EBRT), nutrient supply, mass loading rate, temperature on elimination capacity was investigated. A maximum elimination capacity (ECmax) of 54 g m-3 h-1 was obtained at mass loading rate of 64 g m-3 h-1, removal efficiency (RE) 84%. The reactor was sensitive to temporary temperature decrease and recovery was slow compared with the biotrickling filter operated at thermophilic condition.