Full-scale performance and microbial community evolution using dopamine modified ceramic membrane submerged membrane biological reactor in treating young landfill leachate

In this project, ceramic membrane submerged membrane biological reactor (SMBR) was integrated to dissolved air flotation (DAF)-up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)-anoxic and aerobic (A/O) system in treating young landfill leachate with a capacity of 300 m3 /day over 185 days' operation. High removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (96.8 %), ammonia nitrogen (83.4 %) and total nitrogen (79.6 %) were achieved via DAFUASB -A/O system. The membrane permeate COD was below 356 mg/L. The permeate turbidity was stable below 11 NTU, met the condition for further ultrafiltration treatment. The SMBR system was operated stability at the flux of 26 LMH because of excellent surface hydrophilicity of the dopamine modified ceramic membrane. Remarkably, immersed chemical cleaning can recover the filterability entirely, indicating the dopamine modified ceramic membrane SMBR can be recognized as fouling-free MBRs. The foulants removal after chemical cleaning on the ceramic membrane was detailly analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray. The comparative microbial analysis between sludge Day-1 and Day-185 revealed that significant changes of microbial community occurred. Regarding the nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, Thauera was identified as potential functional specie in simultaneous methanogensis and denitrification process in the UASB reactor. High populations of Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi contributed the nitrification and denitrification in the A/O system. The anaerobic ammonia oxidation process might happen due to the identified Planctomycetes. At the genus level, genera, such as Thauera, Phycisphaerae and Betaproteobacteria, with high abundances were functional species ensuring the nitrogen removal in the A/O environment.