Koch Membrane Systems Inc. (KMS), has supplied Puron membrane bioreactor (MBR) ultrafiltration (UF) modules for use at a key chemical plant in Eastern China. The system is the first large application of the Puron MBR product in the chemicals industry in China.
Chemical process wastewater is treated at the plant with anoxic and aerobic processes followed by membrane filtration and reverse osmosis at a capacity of 10,000 cu meters per day (2.6 million gal per day). The MBR modules are part of a plant upgrade, undertaken to meet stringent plant water recycle requirements. Puron MBR was selected after a pilot demonstration showed better performance compared with other competing products.
Puron modules feature a single header design, with reinforced braided hollow fibers fixed only at the bottom to eliminate clogging. They produce high quality effluent, require a small footprint, and eliminate the need for secondary clarification. Unlike conventional wastewater treatment technology, the modules act as a physical barrier to bacteria. The modules also have one of the lowest energy and chemical input demands of comparable products on the market.
Puron modules position the aeration nozzle in the center of the fiber bundle to scour the entire fiber length and minimize power consumption. The sealed upper ends of the fibers are allowed to float freely. The modules are submerged in activated sludge and a slight vacuum draws water from the outside wall of the fiber to the inside, where it flows as clean permeate.
