Abstract:
The application of the ceramic diffuser as a sedimentation unit of activated sludge system was investigated in this research. The ceramic diffuser was performed both functions as a diffuser and a separator in the same unit. Thus, the reactor used in this work was similar to an aerobic membrane bioreactor. The intentions of this research were to determine the efficiency of its separation, and to evaluate its transmembrane pressure varied with filtration time and sludge concentrations in the range of 5,000-15,000 mg/l MLSS. Moreover, using ceramic diffusers in continuous operating system at different organic loading rates of 0.24, 0.6, 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 kg COD/m3-d were studied. The efficiency of systems were demonstrated by parameter value measurement. The results showed that its transmembrane pressure, as expected, increased with time and got higher with the escalation of sludge concentration. A separation efficiency of the ceramic diffuser was up to 99%. In continuous operating system at different organic loading rates, used ceramic diffusers to alternate between solid separation and air diffusion every 15 minutes, it was found sludge concentration could be preserved by ceramic diffusers. Then it could be controlled the sludge age. The parameter values were suitable for operating. The COD removal efficiency was over than 90% and the effluent suspended solid concentration was lower than benchmark. This application could receive high organic loading rate. Thus it was similar to membrane bioreactor by using ceramic diffuser instead of membrane.