Research Thesis Topic
Improving the Waste Activated Sludge Process by Combining Moving Bed Bioreactor and Membrane Bioreactor Technology Using Microbes Immobilization Techniques
Raw sewage has been treated by the waste activated sludge process for a hundred years. Due to increasing population and more stringent regulation regarding effluent quality, membranes have been introduced in the process to uncouple hydraulic and solid retention times. The main problem remains membrane fouling which requires regular cleaning. This is due to the high Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) that these membrane bioreactor operate at which results in a cake layer on the membrane as well as soluble colloids that clog the membrane pores. In this project, we will investigate the use of a baffled bioreactor to keep the sludge in the upstream compartments to achieve low solids concentration in the membrane compartment. Further improvement will be studied by using plastic biocarriers and powdered activated carbon (PAC) creating an hybrid baffled membrane bioreactor with biomass immobilization using biocarriers and PAC.
- School of Engineering and Built Environment
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)
Please review the admission requirements for the academic program associated with this Thesis Topic
Essential requirements include:
- Master degree in chemical/environmental engineering or microbiology
- publication track record will be considered favourably
- strong motivation and a commitment to work hard (6 days per week)