Effect of chemical and biological surfactants on activated sludge of MBR system: Microscopic analysis and foam test

• The study aims to offer information about the foaming in MBR pilot plant.
• The role of synthetics and biological surfactants in foaming is discussed.
• The ink has been used to investigate the bound fraction of biological surfactant.
• Influence of C/N ratio unbalancing in foaming phenomena has been investigated.

A bench-scale MBR unit was operated, under stressing condition, with the aim of stimulating the onset of foaming in the activated sludge. Possible synergies between synthetic surfactants in the wastewater and biological surfactants (Extra-Cellular Polymeric Substances, EPSs) were investigated by changing C/N ratio. The growth of filamentous bacteria was also discussed. The MBR unit provided satisfactory overall carbon removal overall efficiencies: in particular, synthetic surfactants were removed with efficiency higher than 90% and 95% for non-ionic and ionic surfactants, respectively. Lab investigation suggested also the importance to reduce synthetic surfactants presence entering into mixed liquor: otherwise, their presence can significantly worsen the natural foaming caused by biological surfactants (EPSs) produced by bacteria. Finally, a new analytic method based on “ink test” has been proposed as a useful tool to achieve a valuation of EPSs bound fraction.

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