Investigation of mercury removal by Micro-Algae dynamic membrane bioreactor from simulated dental waste water

•An optimal dynamic Micro-Algae membrane is developed.•Simulated dental waste water containing mercury is prepared to be treated.•Dynamic membrane is utilized for mercury removal within a bioreactor.•The process managed to completely remove mercury from simulated waste water.

Considering the high mercury load of dental wastewater (DWW), the aim of current research is investigation of mercury removal from DWW using Micro-Algae dynamic membrane (DM) in a dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR) using synthetic DWW and compare its performance with a control membrane bioreactor (CMBR). Subsequently, the optimal Micro-Algae DM was developed at 200 rpm of agitation rate using axial-flow agitator and 18 LMH imposed flux, over a Kubota membrane. Then, mercury removal was investigated for Synthetic DWWs of 300-800 ppb mercury concentrations using the DM and CM (control membrane) during short term filtration tests. According to obtained results After 24 h DM permeate mercury removal was completed, However CM permeate flow was still containing mercury, obviously utilization of Micro-Algae DM was positively affected mercury removal process. Experiment was repeated in presence of activated-sludge. However, during this process, DM mercury removal after 24 h was dropped from 85.88 to 79.02%.

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