RESUMO
The study reports the minimization of excess sludge produced in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) coupled with a sludge Fenton oxidation (oxidation using H(2)O(2) with an iron catalyst) process. Total experimental period was divided into two stages. At the first stage, a series of batch studies were carried out to elucidate the parameters governing the activated sludge disintegration. It was found that Fenton oxidation can disrupt the cell walls and cause the release of plasm from the cells, thus increasing the content of soluble organics and soluble nitrogen in the solution. At the following stage, two MBRs with and without the Fenton process were operated to evaluate the influence of sludge Fenton oxidation on the sludge yield and water quality. It was demonstrated that the incorporation of Fenton process can significantly reduce sludge production, as evidenced from the decrease in the value of the average sludge yield from 0.15 to 0.006 g MLSS/g COD. The water quality of effluent in both systems was maintained at a satisfactory level. Furthermore, it was revealed that the MBR system with the sludge Fenton oxidation process showed relatively better performance for TN removal than that without it.