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Effect of Operating Parameters and Energy Expenditure on the Biological Performance of Rotating Biological Contactor for Wastewater Treatment

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Irfan

    (Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University Saudi Arabia, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia)

  • Sharjeel Waqas

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
    School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad 37610, Pakistan)

  • Javed Akbar Khan

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia)

  • Saifur Rahman

    (Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University Saudi Arabia, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia)

  • Izabela Kruszelnicka

    (Department of Water Supply and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland)

  • Dobrochna Ginter-Kramarczyk

    (Department of Water Supply and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland)

  • Stanislaw Legutko

    (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland)

  • Marek Ochowiak

    (Department of Chemical Engineering and Equipment, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland)

  • Sylwia Włodarczak

    (Department of Chemical Engineering and Equipment, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland)

  • Krystian Czernek

    (Department of Process and Environmental Engineering, Opole University of Technology, 45-271 Opole, Poland)

Abstract

The rotating biological contactor (RBC) is resistant to toxic chemical and shock loadings, and this results in significant organic and nutrient removal efficiencies. The RBC system offers a low-energy footprint and saves up to 90% in energy costs. Due to the system’s low-energy demand, it is easily operable with renewable energy sources, either solar or wind power. An RBC was employed to degrade pollutants in domestic wastewater through biodegradation mechanisms in this study. The high microbial population in the RBC bioreactor produced excellent biological treatment capacity and higher effluent quality. The results showed that the RBC bioreactor achieved an average removal efficiency of 73.9% of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 38.3% of total nitrogen (TN), 95.6% of ammonium, and 78.9% of turbidity. Investigation of operational parameters, disk rotational speed, HRT, and SRT, showed the biological performance impact. Disk rotational speed showed uniform effluent quality at 30–40 rpm, while higher values of disk rotational speed (>40 rpm) resulted in lower effluent quality in COD, TN, and turbidity. The longer hydraulic retention time and sludge retention time (SRT) facilitated higher biological performance efficiency. The longer SRTs enabled the higher TN removal efficiency because of the higher quantity of microbial biomass retention. The longer SRT also resulted in efficient sludge-settling properties and reduced volume of sludge production. The energy evaluation of the RBC bioreactor showed that it consumed only 0.14 kWh/m 3 , which is significantly lower than the conventional treatment methods; therefore, it is easily operable with renewable energy sources. The RBC is promising substitute for traditional suspended growth processes as higher microbial activity, lower operational and maintenance costs, and lower carbon foot print enhanced the biological performance, which aligns with the stipulations of ecological evolution and environment-friendly treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Irfan & Sharjeel Waqas & Javed Akbar Khan & Saifur Rahman & Izabela Kruszelnicka & Dobrochna Ginter-Kramarczyk & Stanislaw Legutko & Marek Ochowiak & Sylwia Włodarczak & Krystian Czernek, 2022. "Effect of Operating Parameters and Energy Expenditure on the Biological Performance of Rotating Biological Contactor for Wastewater Treatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:10:p:3523-:d:813335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Leonard & Eoghan Clifford & William Finnegan & Alma Siggins & Xinmin Zhan, 2021. "Deployment and Optimisation of a Pilot-Scale IASBR System for Treatment of Dairy Processing Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Mónica Vergara-Araya & Verena Hilgenfeldt & Heidrun Steinmetz & Jürgen Wiese, 2022. "Combining Shift to Biogas Production in a Large WWTP in China with Optimisation of Nitrogen Removal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Joseph Tauber & Andreas Ramsbacher & Karl Svardal & Jörg Krampe, 2021. "Energetic Potential for Biological Methanation in Anaerobic Sewage Sludge Digesters in Austria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Sharjeel Waqas & Muhammad Roil Bilad & Nurul Huda & Noorfidza Yub Harun & Nik Abdul Hadi Md Nordin & Norazanita Shamsuddin & Yusuf Wibisono & Asim Laeeq Khan & Jumardi Roslan, 2021. "Membrane Filtration as Post-Treatment of Rotating Biological Contactor for Wastewater Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Sultan & Muhammad Hamid Mahmood & Md Shamim Ahamed & Redmond R. Shamshiri & Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, 2022. "Energy Systems and Applications in Agriculture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-3, December.

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