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Particle size distribution as a major characteristic of domestic wastewater: implications for the modeling and design of membrane bioreactors
Author(s) -
Doğruel Serdar,
Orhon Derin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.6645
Subject(s) - chemical oxygen demand , ultrafiltration (renal) , filtration (mathematics) , biodegradation , activated sludge , wastewater , organic matter , fractionation , bioreactor , chemistry , sewage , pulp and paper industry , membrane bioreactor , particle (ecology) , chromatography , environmental science , environmental engineering , mathematics , engineering , biology , organic chemistry , ecology , statistics
This study reviews the evolution of the concept and the methodology of particle size distribution (PSD) analysis for sewage. Evaluation of experimental data indicated that the analytical approach started with an empirical identification of soluble, colloidal and supra‐colloidal organic matter. Then, it evolved into a sequential filtration and ultrafiltration methodology, yielding results useful enough to be an integral complement of respirometric chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractionation based on biodegradation characteristics. Default values could be defined for the distribution of COD fractions in terms of both size and biodegradation characteristics, which practically showed similar profiles, suggesting that PSD of COD could be directly used for model evaluation and design of activated sludge configurations. Size distribution of COD in sewage should be regarded as a prerequisite for activated sludge systems with a membrane module, mainly to assess the fate of COD fractions that would be entrapped and recycled back to the reactor by membrane filtration. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry