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Effects of hydraulic retention time on net present value and performance in a membrane bioreactor treating antibiotic production wastewater

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Abstract

A cost sensitivity analysis was performed for an industrial membrane bioreactor to quantify the effects of hydraulic retention times and related operational parameters on cost. Different hydraulic retention times (72–24 h) were subjected to a flat-sheet membrane bioreactor updated from an existing 72 h oxidation ditch treating antibiotic production wastewa ter. Field experimental data from the membrane bioreactor, both full-scale (500 m3/d) and pilot (1.0 m3/d), were used to calculate the net present value (NPV), incorporating both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure. The results showed that the tank cost was estimated above membrane cost in the 38.2%, where capital expenditure contributed 24.2% more than operational expenditure. Tank construction cost was decisive in determining the net present value contributed 62.1% to the capital expenditure. The membrane bioreactor has the advantage of a longer lifespan flat-sheet membrane, while flux decline was tolerable. The antibiotics decreased to 1.87±0.33 mg/L in the MBR effluent. The upgrade to the membrane bioreactor also benefited further treatments by 10.1%–44.7% lower direct investment.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFD0501405), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21677161), and Major Science & Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China (Nos. 2017ZX07102-002 and 2018ZX07105-001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China

    Dawei Yu, Jianxing Wang, Libin Zheng, Qianwen Sui, Hui Zhong, Meixue Cheng & Yuansong Wei

  2. Department of Water Pollution Control Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China

    Dawei Yu, Jianxing Wang, Libin Zheng, Qianwen Sui, Hui Zhong, Meixue Cheng & Yuansong Wei

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Dawei Yu, Jianxing Wang, Libin Zheng, Qianwen Sui, Hui Zhong, Meixue Cheng & Yuansong Wei

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  1. Dawei Yu
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  2. Jianxing Wang
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  5. Hui Zhong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuansong Wei.

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Highlights

• The membrane bioreactor cost decreased by 38.2% by decreasing HRT from 72 h to 36 h.

• Capital and operation costs contributed 62.1% and 37.9% to decreased costs.

• The membrane bioreactor is 32.6% cheaper than the oxidation ditch for treatment.

• The effluent COD also improved from 709.93±62.75 mg/L to 280±17.32 mg/L.

• Further treatment also benefited from lower pretreatment investment.

Supporting Information

11783_2020_1280_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Fig. S1 FTIR results of influent and effluent of OD and MBR, where MBR effluent showed fewer characteristic peaks than OD

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Yu, D., Wang, J., Zheng, L. et al. Effects of hydraulic retention time on net present value and performance in a membrane bioreactor treating antibiotic production wastewater. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 14, 101 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1280-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1280-7

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