Optimization of operational parameters at laboratory scale membrane bioreactor for treatment of high-strength opium alkaloid wastewater: The effect of pretreatment

Two different membrane treatment scenarios have been applied for of the high strength dark color alkaloid industry wastewater. A bioreactor (MBR) system having separately UF and MF membranes was operated with raw wastewater (scenario-A) anaerobically pre-treated (scenario-B). NF 270, 90 RO (XLE) were used as a polish-ing step at two recovery ratios 50% 75% both scenarios. In scenario-A, COD re-moval efficiencies MBR-MF MBR-UF found 86±9% 55±24%, respectively. At polishing step, performance after scenario-A indicated that 99.6% complete remov-al achieved. On other hand, in scenario-B, removal 41±16.4% 24±18.3%, experiments indi-cated The most crucial problem during direct MBR operation foaming prevented by anti-foaming agent which caused an increase effluent concentration chemical cost. For these reasons, it can be concluded more effective than scenario.