Development of an integrated shipboard wastewater treatment system using biofilm-MBR

An integrated shipboard wastewater treatment system using a biofilm-MBR process is developed, where the objective is to include the bilge water effluent with the treatment of black/grey wastewater for enhanced treatment and potential reuse of all wastewater streams on ships. The KeraNor flat sheet ceramic membrane modules were developed and applied in the biofilm-MBR process with recycle side-stream configuration. The operating parameters, such as hydraulic retention time, influent oil concentration, organic shock load, influent salinity were investigated. It is found that the biofilm reactor combined with membrane filtration is a suitable process for shipboard wastewater treatment. The treatment capacity of the biofilm-MBR can be increased up to 160 mg/L influent fuel oil concentration and even higher (400 mg/L influent oil in shock load test) in HRT 8 h. Results indicate that serious membrane fouling always correlates with high FCOD and SMPs values in the concentrate solution around the membrane for biofilm-MBR process.