Membracon has completed work on a wastewater treatment project in Taiwan involving combined pharmaceutical and septic tank effluent.
The project included the measurement of sludge and foulant characteristics from a challenging mixed effluent stream. It was carried out using full-scale membrane bioreactor modules and involved close collaboration with the Department of Environmental Engineering & Science at Chia Nan University.
The work focused on a 10 m3/day plant in Taiwan with a 10 m3 buffer tank, alongside process and membrane tanks each with a working volume of 8.7 m3. The configuration provided a hydraulic retention time of 42 hours, based on two process and membrane tanks with a combined working volume of 17.4 m3.
Managing variable pharmaceutical and septic effluent
The plant was tested with wastewater temperatures of 16-28C and chemical oxygen demand concentrations typically ranging from 800 to 12,000 mg/L. Chemical oxygen demand, or COD, is commonly used as an indicator of the amount of oxidisable material in wastewater.
Membracon said its treatment technologies saw mixed liquor suspended solids concentration increase from 6,000 to 12,000 mg/L during an initial 80-day operating period. The process then operated at 12,000-17,000 mg/L solids concentration for a further 40 days.
Viscosity was found to vary logarithmically with mixed liquor suspended solids across the concentration range studied. The project operated at a mean sludge retention time of 40 days and COD loading of 0.099-6.488 kgCOD/(m3/d).
MBR technology for industrial wastewater
Membrane bioreactor systems combine biological treatment with membrane separation, making them relevant for complex wastewater streams where solids separation, process stability and treated effluent quality are important. Membracon provides industrial wastewater treatment technologies including membrane-based systems for effluent treatment and reuse.
“This project in Taiwan underlines the very high level that we can work to in providing cutting-edge water treatment solutions,” said Matt Williams, Managing Director at Membracon. “Responsible water management and water security is more important than ever.”
“This was a great opportunity to collaborate with a like-minded organisation, where we could show the efficiency and sustainability benefits that we can deliver with our expertise and technologies.”
The project reflects growing demand for advanced treatment approaches in industrial wastewater applications, particularly where variable loads, high-strength effluent and reuse opportunities need to be managed within a compact treatment process.
More information is available from Membracon.
FAQs
What has Membracon completed in Taiwan?
Membracon has completed work on a wastewater treatment project involving combined pharmaceutical and septic tank effluent in Taiwan.
What technology was used?
The project used full-scale membrane bioreactor, or MBR, membrane modules to support treatment and assessment of sludge and foulant characteristics.
Who did Membracon work with?
Membracon worked in close collaboration with the Department of Environmental Engineering & Science at Chia Nan University.
What was the plant capacity?
The plant had a treatment capacity of 10 m3/day and included a 10 m3 buffer tank plus process and membrane tanks.
Why is pharmaceutical wastewater challenging?
Pharmaceutical wastewater can contain variable organic loads and complex contaminants, making robust treatment, monitoring and process control important.
