Research
Study of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs)
The main drawback of Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) technology is membrane fouling, i.e. the increase of membrane resistance due to the presence of various substances (suspended solids, colloids or dissolved matter) on the membrane surface or inside its pores. In the pilot-scale MBR which is constructed and operated in the Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology (ground floor of new building), several innovative methods are applied in order to reduce or control membrane fouling. These methods mainly include the addition of coagulation reagents, polyelectrolytes, adsorbents (PAC) and bio-film carriers, as well as the use of filaments in moderate populations (FI = 2-3).
Application of coagulation/flocculation in surface water treatment
The major disadvantage of using polyaluminum chloride (PACl) in surface water treatment lies in the possible presence of increased aluminum (Al) concentration in the treated water: in recent years, there has been increasing evidence that Al is associated with serious neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Alzheimer’s disease. In the experiments which are conducted in the Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology (ground floor of new building) the possibility of replacing conventional PACl with pre-polymerized Fe coagulants is investigated.
Biogas upgrading with the use of polymeric membranes
Among various biogas upgrading methods, the use of membranes is of particular interest due to a number of advantages, such as high safety, simple operation, easy maintenance and the absence of hazardous chemicals. Our research team (Prof. A. Zoumboulis, Dr. P. Gkotsis and Dr. E. Peleka), in collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Hellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO) “DEMETER” and AKTOR S.A., examines biogas upgrading with the implementation of polyimide and polysulfone membranes, both in lab-scale and in pilot-scale setups.