Abstract:
This research study about an application of ceramic diffuser as a sedimentation unit of activated sludge system for solve sludge bulking problem that effect to effluent water. The ceramic diffusers were used in place of membrane of aerobic membrane bioreactor. This study investigated for optimized filtration and backwash time and proved equation to predict ceramic diffuser lifetime. The system volume was 12.5 L operating at organic loading 37.5 g COD/day and sludge ages 20 day. Moreover, using ceramic diffuser in continuously alternate filtrate and backwash in difference time of 15, 30 and 60 minutes were studies. The results showed that optimize operating time was 60 minutes that make ceramic diffuser had longest lifetime 122 days. However, this research investigated maximum operating time at 60 minutes. So if the operating time prolonged, ceramic diffusers lifetime possibly extended.This research found both pore blocking and cake filtration in ceramic diffuser. From lifetime predicting mathematic model, Report degree of fouling at backwash time of 15, 30 and 60 minutes was 0.001088, 0.002893 and 0.002455 respectively.