Treatment of slaughterhouse plant wastewater

by using a membrane bioreactor

Levent Grel and Hanife Bykgngr
ABSTRACT
The use of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for removal of organic substances and nutrients from
slaughterhouse plant wastewater was investigated. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total
nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations of slaughterhouse wastewater were found to
be approximately 571 mg O
2
/L, 102.5 mg/L, and 16.25 mg PO
4
-P/L, respectively. A submerged type
membrane was used in the bioreactor. The removal efciencies for COD, total organic carbon (TOC),
TP and TN were found to be 97, 96, 65, 44% respectively. The COD value of wastewater was decreased
to 16 mg/L (COD discharge standard for slaughterhouse plant wastewaters is 160 mg/L). TOC was
decreased to 9 mg/L (TOC discharge standard for slaughterhouse plant wastewaters is 20 mg/L).
Ammonium, and nitrate nitrogen concentrations of treated efuent were 0.100 mg NH
4
-N/L, and
80.521 mg NO
3
-N/L, respectively. Slaughterhouse wastewater was successfully treated with the
MBR process.
Levent Grel (corresponding author)
Samsun Metropolitan Municipality,
SASKI Derebahce Santiyesi
_
Ilkadm,
Samsun,
Turkiye
E-mail: leventgurel@gmail.com
Hanife Bykgngr
Engineering Faculty,
Environmental Engineering Department,
Ondokuz Mayis University,
55139 Atakum,
Samsun,
Turkiye
Key words | membrane bioreactor, removal of nutrients, removal of organic substance,
slaughterhouse wastewater, submerged membrane
INTRODUCTION
Slaughterhouses generate a large volume of efuents (Melo
et al. zoo8). The consumption of water per slaughtered
animal varies according to the animal and the process
employed in each industry, and ranges from 1 to 8.3 m
3
.
Most of this amount is discarded as wastewater, with
volumes from 0.4 to 3.1 m
3
per slaughtered animal being
reported in the literature (Saddoud & Sayadi zoo;). Slaugh-
terhouse wastewater contains high concentrations of
biodegradable organic substances, mostly fats and proteins
and adequate nutrient concentrations for biological growth
(Masse & Mass zoo; Al-Mutairi zoo6). This wastewater
also contains total suspended solids including fat, grease,
hair, feather, esh, manure, grit and undigested feed (Asselin
et al. zoo8). Since slaughterhouse wastewater contains high
concentrations of biodegradable organic substances biologi-
cal processes are widely used for the treatment of these
efuents. Slaughterhouse processes in industrialized
countries are governed by strict legislation to protect
public health and environment (n et al. zoo).
Conventional activated sludge (AS) process is widely
used in treating municipal or industrial wastewater.
However, these techniques usually suffer failing in the
sedimentation and thickening process due to the excess
growth of lamentous bacteria in sludge suspension (Meng
et al. zoo6). To overcome this drawback and improve
system performance, membrane ltration technology has
been introduced in biological wastewater treatment
(Zhang et al. zoo6).
MBR is operated similar to a conventional AS process
but without the need for secondary clarication and tertiary
steps like sand ltration. Low-pressure membrane ltration,
either microltration (MF; pore size in the range of 0.05
5 m) or ultraltration (UF; pore size in the range of
0.0050.1 m), is used to separate efuent from AS (Hasar
et al. zoo|; Melin et al. zoo6). Membrane separation confers
advantages in terms of water quality, reliability compact-
ness, exibility of operation and less sludge production
compared to classical AS processes (Ahmed et al. zoo8;
Lesage et al. zoo8). The process also can be run at high
solids retention time. Long sludge ages are not possible
with conventional AS systems because they produce
sludge that does not settle well (Lesjean et al. zoo|).
Membrane separation is carried out either by pressure-
driven ltration in side-stream MBRs or with vacuum-driven
214 IWA Publishing 2011 Water Science & Technology | 64.1 | 2011
doi: 10.2166/wst.2011.677
membranes immersed directly into the bioreactor, which
operates in dead-end mode in submerged MBRs. The more
common MBR conguration for wastewater treatment is
the latter, with immersed membranes, although a side-
stream conguration is also possible, with wastewater
pumped through the membrane module and then returned
to the bioreactor. Submerged systems have been recently
preferred relatively to external systems because of low
operating costs (nl et al. zoo; Cornel & Krause zoo8).
There are two types of submerged membranes: hollow
ber and plate-and-frame. Especially, hollow ber type
submerged membranes are becoming more popular for
large-scale water treatments because of compactness
(Yoon et al. zoo|).
Researchers have conducted some studies for treating
slaughterhouse wastewaters by using several treatment tech-
nologies (Del Pozo & Diez zoo; Al-Mutairi et al. zoo8; Li
et al. zoo8). There are not enough studies for the treatment
of slaughterhouse wastewaters by using MBR systems in
the literature. In this work, an MBR system was used to
treat slaughterhouse wastewater. In the studies, parameters
such as COD, TOC, TP, TN, ammonium and, nitrate were
analyzed to determine the treatment efciency of this
MBR process. Nitrogen derivatives were investigated in
order to understand the nitrication process clearly.
METHOD
Experimental setup and equipment
A bioreactor (locally fabricated) which had a working
volume of 34 L was used in the experimental studies. A
submerged type UF membrane was used in this bioreactor.
The raw wastewater in the feed tank (25 L) was loaded to
the bioreactor. AS which was taken from a domestic bio-
logical treatment plant was inoculated to the bioreactor.
First, the bioreactor was operated as a batch AS process
for 25 d. Then the membrane module was inserted into
the reactor and MBR studies were conducted. The sche-
matic of the system is shown in Figure 1. TMP value was
varied in the range of 140280 mbar. The ux of the
system was varied between 45 and 60 L/m
2
day. The pH
value of the mixed liquor was kept in the range of 69. Dis-
solved oxygen concentration of the bioreactor was varied
between 5.2 and 6.3 mg/L. In the experimental period,
temperature values were varied in the range of 2125
W
C.
The characteristics of the membrane module are given in
Table 1.
Wastewater characteristics
Process water was formed by washing of animals before and
after slaughtering and the other activities in the plant. The
blood was not mixed to the wastewater and collected separ-
ately. When the wastewater was investigated physically, it
was seen that the turbidity and the total solids were high.
The results of slaughterhouse plant wastewater analyses
are given in Table 2.
Analyses
During the experimental studies, several analyses were con-
ducted to determine the removal efciency of the MBR
system. COD, TOC, TP, and TN parameters were investi-
gated. These analyses were performed according to the
standard methods (Clescerl et al. I8). TOC parameter was
Table 1 | Characteristics of membrane module
Characteristic Value
Type Ultraltration
Material Polysulphone
Module diameter (cm) 10
Effective length (cm) 24
Membrane pore size (m) 0.03
Inner diameter of bre (cm) 0.8
Outer diameter of bre (cm) 1.0
Surface area of a bre (cm
2
) 60.3
Fibre number of a module 32
Total membrane surface area (cm
2
/module) 1,930
Figure 1 | Membrane bioreactor system.
215 L. Grel & H. Bykgngr | Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment by MBR Water Science & Technology | 64.1 | 2011
measured by using Apollo 9000 TOC according to Standard
Methods 5310B. COD, TP, and TN analyses were made by
using a photometer (Merck Spectroquant NOVA 60).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
MBR treatment
After the treatment studies conducted by conventional AS
(batch system without membrane), the membrane unit was
submerged to the bioreactor, and the wastewater was fed
continuously. A long hydraulic retention time was chosen
in the light of previous preliminary test results not men-
tioned here. The wastewater which was drawn from the
membrane unit was transferred to a ltrate storage tank.
The most suitable pH range for the biodegradation of
organic substances by AS was 69 because in this pH
range microorganisms can remain alive and successfully
degrade organic substances. Therefore, pH value of the
wastewater was kept in the range of 6.57.5. When the
MLSS (Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids) measurements
were investigated in the MBR stage of the studies, it was
seen that the MLSS concentration of AS was varied in the
range of 1,4002,200 mg/L.
Removal of COD and TOC
During the treatment studies, change in the CODvalues with
time was investigated continuously. The results obtained in
this work are shown in Figure 2. In consequence of the
tests, COD removal by an MBR system was accomplished
very well. During the studies, the minimum and maximum
COD values of raw slaughterhouse wastewater were 113.75
and 1,032.5 mg/L, respectively. In this treatment study, the
minimum and maximum COD values obtained by MBR
system were found to be 16.25 and 48.75 mg/L, respectively.
The membrane ux used in the tests was 54 L/m
2
day on an
average. Due to the complex structure of slaughterhouse
plant wastewater, long retention time was chosen. The
hydraulic retention time of wastewater in the bioreactor is
78 h onaverage. The removal efciencies were varied between
84 and 97%. Long hydraulic retention times are important
factors affecting the biodegradation. Long retention times
were chosen due to the prevention of short contact times of
organic substances with microorganisms. It was seen from
the test results that microorganisms were successfully
degraded organic substances at the long retention times.
Discharge standard of COD for slaughterhouse plant
wastewaters is 160 mg/L (SKKY zoo|). The COD values
obtained at the result of the treatment studies (16.25
48.75 mg/L) are quite low when compared with the dis-
charge standard limits (160 mg/L).
Table 2 | The composition of slaughterhouse wastewater
Parameter Value Discharge limits (SKKY 2004)
COD (mg O
2
/L) 1141,033 160
TOC (mg C/L) 50328 20
TN (mg/L) 82127
TP (mg PO
4
-P/L) 823
Suspended solids (mg/L) 9801,150
Total solids (mg/L) 1,2531,413
pH 8.08.5 69
Turbidity (NTU) 75511
Figure 2 | COD and TOC treatment efciencies.
216 L. Grel & H. Bykgngr | Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment by MBR Water Science & Technology | 64.1 | 2011
In the treatment studies, the TOC value was also ana-
lyzed. TOC value was normally lower than COD value,
because in TOC tests organic matter cannot be degraded
as much as in COD tests. This was veried by the tests con-
ducted for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. In the
result of the tests, TOC removal efciencies obtained are
demonstrated in Figure 2.
When the results of TOC analyses were investigated, it
was observed that the inuent TOC and the efuent TOC
had a similar trend to the COD parameter. The TOC content
of the raw slaughterhouse wastewater varied in the range of
49.55327.98 mg/L. The TOC content of the treated ltrate
varied between 9.25 and 23.86 mg/L. Minimum and maxi-
mum TOC removal efciencies of the MBR were found to
be 76 and 96%, respectively.
Discharge standard limit of TOC for slaughterhouse
plant wastewater was 20 mg/L in the regulation of water
pollution and control (SKKY zoo|). On day 48 of treatment
studies, TOC reached a maximum value of 23.86 mg/L. This
value exceeded the discharge standard limit. This case
was observed only 1 d of whole operation time. But in
the other periods of the treatment study, TOC values
of the ltrate were low when compared with the value of
20 mg/L.
In the treatment period, when all COD and TOC results
for raw slaughterhouse wastewater were compared with
each other, it was found that the average ratio of COD par-
ameter to TOC parameter was calculated as 2.6. This
average ratio for treated efuent was found to be 2.0. It
was seen from Figure 2 that COD and TOC values differed
in the rst 5 d of MBR treatment, but in the advancing
time periods, COD and TOC values were consistent with
each other.
Removal of nutrients
During COD and TOC experiments, also TP and TN ana-
lyses were conducted simultaneously to determine the
nutrient removal efciencies. The TN and TP removal per-
formances of the MBR system are shown in Figure 3. At
the start of the treatment studies minimum and maximum
TN concentrations in the raw slaughterhouse plant waste-
water were found as 82 and 127 mg/L, respectively. In
consequence of treatment process TN concentration of
wastewater was severely decreased by MBR system. Mini-
mum and maximum TN concentrations of treated ltrate
were found to be 59 and 92 mg/L, respectively. The calcu-
lated treatment efciencies were varied in the range of
2744%. There is no discharge standard limit value of TN
for slaughterhouse plant wastewaters according to the regu-
lation of water pollution and control (SKKY zoo|).
However, nitrogen concentration of wastewater is too high
for receiving environment.
Phosphorus is as important a nutrient as organic sub-
stance and nitrogen. It is necessary for implementation of
treatment process by microorganisms.
When the results of the experimental studies were
assessed, it was observed that the TP concentration in
the raw wastewater varied in the range of 7.5 and 22.5
mg/L. Minimum and maximum TP concentrations
of treated ltrate (efuent) were found to be 4.0 and
15.6 mg/L, respectively. At day 33, TP value of treated l-
trate peaked. But in the other periods of the treatment,
this increase was not observed again. A maximum TP
removal efciency of 65% was achieved throughout the
study. This removal efciency was quite successful for AS
process.
Figure 3 | TP and TN removal performances of MBR system.
217 L. Grel & H. Bykgngr | Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment by MBR Water Science & Technology | 64.1 | 2011
In the literature it is mentioned that acinetobacter stores
phosphorus in aerobic conditions. In this phase, the amount
of phosphorus stored by acinetobacter is more than twice
the amount of phosphorus released in anaerobic conditions.
Therefore, sludge in the bioreactor is rich with phosphorus.
Due to these features of acinetobacter, it is the most impor-
tant microorganism in the AS. In conventional AS,
approximately 40% of the living biological sludge is acineto-
bacter. This case explains that TP of efuent is lower than
that of inuent (Bykgngr zoo).
TN parameter is not sufcient for investigating nitrogen
cycle in the wastewater. The parameters such as nitrate
nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen can be used as an indi-
cators of contamination. Therefore, these parameters must
be determined to get more detailed information about the
degree of contamination. The variation of ammonium nitro-
gen concentration throughout the study is shown in Figure 4.
The minimum and maximum ammonium nitrogen con-
centrations in the raw slaughterhouse wastewater were
39.45 and 98.60 mg/L, respectively. High ammonium con-
centrations in the raw wastewater exhibited a new
contamination. The ammonium nitrogen concentrations of
treated efuent varied in the range of 0.100.55 mg/L. It
was clearly seen from Figure 4 that ammonium nitrogen
was successfully removed by the MBR system. The treat-
ment performance of the reactor was found above 99%.
When this case was examined in depth, it was observed
that the ammonium in the raw wastewater was rst oxidized
to nitrite, and then nitrate by extended aeration process in
the AS tank. In this situation, nitrate nitrogen concentration
must be high in the treated efuent.
Another parameter among nitrogen derivatives is
nitrate. The variation nitrate is also shown in Figure 4.
Nitrate is the last nitrication product of nitrogen, and is
also more stable in the environment. The nitrate concen-
tration of slaughterhouse wastewater varied in the range of
0.2531.938 mg/L. This concentration in the wastewater
was quite low. There are two ways to explain this condition.
In the rst way, it could be said that the contamination was
new. In the second way, aeration in this wastewater was not
sufcient. The minimum and maximum nitrate nitrogen
concentrations of treated efuent were 39.25 and 80.52
mg/L, respectively. It was concluded that ammonium nitro-
gen in the raw wastewater was oxidized to nitrate by
powerful and extended aeration. The concentration of
nitrate nitrogen in the tank after the treatment was found
high. These high nitrate concentrations in the aeration
tank can be reduced by using denitrication process. Also,
the other advanced treatment technologies such as ion
exchange and reverse osmosis can be used for removing
these nitrate problems, but denitrication as a cost-effective
technology is more suitable for this treatment process.
CONCLUSIONS
An UF membrane was used for ltration in the bioreactor.
TOC and COD removal efciencies of this system were
found to be 96 and 97%, respectively. Removal perform-
ances for TN, TP, and NH
4
-N were 44, 65, and 99%,
respectively. The nitrate concentration of slaughterhouse
wastewater varied in the range of 0.2531.938 mg/L and
reached 39.25 and 80.52 mg/L at the end of the treatment
studies. Only high nitrate concentrations in treated efuent
were a problem in this process. To overcome this problem,
denitrication process could be used in addition to this
one-stage MBR process.
Figure 4 | The variation of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen in MBR system.
218 L. Grel & H. Bykgngr | Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment by MBR Water Science & Technology | 64.1 | 2011
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported by Ondokuz Mayis University
with project number of PYO.MUH.1904.09.006.
REFERENCES
Ahmed, Z., Lim, B. R., Cho, J., Song, K. G., Kim, K. P. & Ahn, K. H.
zoo8 Biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal and changes
in microbial community structure in a membrane bioreactor:
effect of different carbon sources. Water Res. 42, 198210.
Al-Mutairi, N. Z. zoo6 Coagulant toxicity and effectiveness in a
slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant. Ecotoxicol.
Environ. Saf. 65, 7483.
Al-Mutairi, N. Z., Al-Shari, F. A. & Al-Shammari, S. B. zoo8
Evaluation study of a slaughterhouse wastewater treatment
plant including contact-assisted activated sludge and DAF.
Desalination 225, 167175.
Asselin, M., Drogui, P., Benmoussa, H. & Blais, J.-F. zoo8
Effectiveness of electrocoagulation process in removing
organic compounds from slaughterhouse wastewater using
monopolar and bipolar electrolytic cells. Chemosphere 72,
17271733.
Bykgngr, H. zoo Atksu artma yntemleri, O.M.. Mh. Fak.
evre Mh. Blm, Samsun, Trkiye. Wastewater Treatment
Processes. O.M.U. Eng.Fac. Env.Eng. Dep., Samsun, Turkey.
Clescerl, L. S., Greenberg, A. E. & Eaton, A. D. I8 Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th
edition. APHA, AWWA, WEF.
Cornel, P. & Krause, S. zoo8 Membrane bioreactors for
wastewater treatment. In: Advanced Membrane Technology
and Applications (N. N. Li, ed.). John Wiley & Sons Inc.,
USA, pp. 217238.
Del Pozo, R. & Diez, V. zoo Integrated anaerobic-aerobic xed-
lm reactor for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. Water
Res. 39, 11141122.
Hasar, H., Knac, C. & nl, A. zoo| Production of non-
biodegradable compounds based on biomass activity in a
submerged ultraltration hollow bre membrane bioreactor
treating raw whey. Process Biochem. 39, 16311638.
Lesage, N., Sperandio, M. & Cabassud, C. zoo8 Study of a hybrid
process: adsorption on activated carbon/membrane
bioreactor for the treatment of an industrial wastewater.
Chem. Eng. Process. 47, 303307.
Lesjean, B., Rosenberger, S., Schrotter, J.-C. & Recherche, A. zoo|
Membrane-aided biological wastewater treatment
an overview of applied systems. Membr. Technol. 8, 510.
Li, J. P., Healy, X. M., Zhan, X. M. & Rodgers, M. zoo8 Nutrient
removal from slaughterhouse wastewater in an intermittently
aerated sequencing batch reactor. Bioresour. Technol. 99,
76447650.
Masse, L. & Mass, D. I. zoo Effect of soluble organic, particulate
organic and hydraulic shock loads on anaerobic sequencing
batch reactors treating slaughterhouse wastewater at 20
W
C.
Process Biochem. 40, 12251232
Melin, T., Jefferson, B., Bixio, D., Thoeye, C., De Wilde, W., De
Koning, J., van der, J. & Wintgens, T. zoo6 Membrane
bioreactor technology for wastewater treatment and reuse.
Desalination 187, 271282.
Melo, R., Verde, S. C., Branco, J. & Botelho, M. L. zoo8
Gamma radiation induced effects on
slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. Radiat. Phys and
Chem. 77, 98100.
Meng, F., Zhang, H., Yang, F., Li, Y., Xiao, J. & Zhang, X. zoo6
Effect of lamentous bacteria on membrane fouling in
submerged membrane bioreactor. J. Membr. Sci. 272,
161168.
Saddoud, A. & Sayadi, S. zoo; Application of acidogenic xed-bed
reactor prior to anaerobic membrane bioreactor for
sustainable slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. J. Hazard.
Mater. 149, 700706
SKKY zoo| Regulation of water pollution and control
(Su Kirlilig i ve Kontrol Ynetmelig i). Republic of
Turkiye Ministry of Environment and Forest, Turkiye, 31
December 2004.
n, . T., Koparal, A. S. & g tveren, . B. zoo Hybrid
processes for the treatment of cattle-slaughterhouse
wastewater using aluminum and iron electrodes. J. Hazard.
Mater. 164, 580586.
nl, A., Hasar, H., Knac, C., akmakc, M. & Koer, N. N. zoo
Real role of an ultraltration hollow-ber membrane module
in a submerged membrane bioreactor. Desalination 181,
185191.
Yoon, S. H., Kim, H.-S. & Yeom, I.-T. zoo| Optimization model of
submerged hollow ber membrane modules. J. Membr. Sci.
234, 147156.
Zhang, H.-M., Xiao, J.-N. & Cheng, Y.-J. zoo6 Comparison
between a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor and a
conventional membrane bioreactor. Process Biochem. 41,
8795.
First received 6 February 2011; accepted in revised form 6 May 2011
219 L. Grel & H. Bykgngr | Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment by MBR Water Science & Technology | 64.1 | 2011