Wastewater Analysis Using Kubota Membrane Bioreactor System

• Mukhtar N. YAHYA

  Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

  Author

• Sohaib ALHAJHUSSEIN

  Environmental Protection Department, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

  Author

Wastewater treatment plays a crucial role in daily life, serving as a process that addresses and eliminates multiple environmental and health issues through proper testing and control. Its primary goal is to ensure that wastewater can be disposed of safely, without threatening public health and with little to no impact on natural water bodies. Effective treatment helps minimize or eliminate pollutants, which not only supports industrial activities economically but also reduces toxic elements, solid waste, and raw material losses. This leads to lower purchase and management costs, improved efficiency, higher profits, better community relations, and enhanced environmental performance. The purpose of this study was to expand knowledge of wastewater treatment, including its chemical and biological characteristics, as well as overall water quality. It also provided hands-on experience in designing, building, and operating a lab-scale wastewater treatment plant. A key focus was on optimizing techniques - such as scouring - to reduce membrane fouling. The project involved setting up a pilot-scale treatment plant modeled after the Kubota MBR system, which uses flat-plate thin-film composite membranes, and running it with synthetic wastewater prepared from a standard recipe. Over a six-week period, treatment parameters such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), pH, temperature, turbidity, and nutrients were monitored. Consistent flux outputs were obtained across different membrane conditions. Findings showed that Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and nitrate levels are inversely proportional to Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS), while COD and turbidity are directly proportional to MLSS. All measured parameters were consistent with the results reported by previous studies and experts in the field of wastewater treatment.

• FJET_12_62_55

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