Simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal by a novel sequencing batch moving bed membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment

Biological nutrient removal (BNR) was investigated in a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor which used carriers instead of activated sludge named a sequencing batch moving bed membrane bioreactor (SBMBMBR). The SBMBMBR performed well on carbon and nitrogen removal at different COD/TN ratios. COD, TN and ammonium nitrogen removal efficiencies averaged at 93.5%, 82.6% and 95.6%, respectively. The TP removal was closely correlated with the length of anaerobic phase and aerobic phase. When anaerobic time and aerobic time were both 2 h, the average TP removal efficiency reached to 84.1% at influent TP concentration of 12.4 mg/L. DO in aerobic phase was an important factor affecting nutrient removal, and the optimal DO was about 3 mg/L. There was a small amount of denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (DPAOs) in SBMBMBR which resulted from the anoxic microenvironment existed in the inner of the biofilm. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results of microbes showed the composition and spatial structure of the microbial community in the reactor. Furthermore, sequencing batch mode operation was propitious to retard membrane fouling.