MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR TREATMENT OF OILY WASTES FROM A METAL TRANSFORMATION MILL

The performance of a membrane bioreactor treating wastewater from a me tal transformation industry was compared with the ultrafiltration syst em at the mill. Toxicity analysis using the microtox and algal tests o n the untreated and treated effluents from both systems showed a 130 f old reduction in toxicity due to the ultrafiltration step and a furthe r 10 fold reduction due to the biological step. This resulted in a bio mass which must be disposed of as a hazardous waste. In comparison wit h the present situation, the overall quantity of hazardous waste was r educed by a factor of 3 due to the combination of the bioreactor and t he ultrafilters.