An integrated wastewater reuse concept combining natural reclamation techniques, membrane filtration and metal oxide adsorption A. Sperlich, X. Zheng, M. Ernst and M. Jekel ABSTRACT A. Sperlich (corresponding author) X. Zheng M. Jekel Department of Water Quality Control, Technical University of Berlin, Sekr. KF 4, Str. des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany M. Ernst Centre for Water in Urban Areas, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany In a Sino-German research project, a sustainable water reclamation concept was developed for different applications of municipal water reuse at the Olympic Green 2008 in Beijing, China. Results from pilot-scale experiments in Beijing and Berlin show that selective nutrient removal by adsorption onto granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) after a membrane bioreactor (MBR) can maintain a total phosphorus concentration of ,0.03 mgL 21 P, thus preventing eutrophication of artificial lakes. Operation time of GFH adsorption columns can be extended by regeneration using sodium hydroxide solution. A subsequent ultrafiltration (UF) membrane after bank filtration creates an additional barrier for pathogens and allows for further urban reuse applications such as toilet flushing. Short term bank / bio-filtration prior to UF is shown to effectively remove biopolymers and reduce membrane fouling. Key words | fouling control, membrane filtration, metal oxide adsorption INTRODUCTION The 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing, China. Green Olympics is one concept of the Beijing Olympic Games and states the determination and ambition for environmental protection. However, the environmental problems of the mega-city Beijing are still tremendous. Above all the water sector is struggling with quality problems and declining groundwater levels. As a conse- quence the City of Beijing is striving for long term solutions for wastewater treatment and its reuse with a challenging and Olympic-oriented water program. The Olympic Green is intended to serve as a demonstration area for innovative, sustainable wastewater treatment and reuse technologies. The Park covers a total area of 1,215 ha, located north of the city centre. An area of 60 ha of constructed artificial lakes and channels will be filled with treated wastewater in the northern area of the Park. In the central area, a smaller lake of 15 ha with superior water quality will be operated with fountains; all waters supplied will be advanced treated municipal wastewaters. Further reuse applications are envisaged, including water for irrigation (not only in the Park, but also in neighboring areas) and urban water applications like toilet flushing and washing waters. The present study summarizes the results of the Sino- German research cooperation project on a sustainable water concept and its application for the Olympic Games 2008 in the subproject “wastewater treatment and reuse”. Project partners are the Beijing Drainage Group, the Tsinghua University in Beijing and the Technical University of Berlin. Moreover, a German small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and a consulting company are involved. A combination of advanced wastewater treatment and nature-orientated technologies were realized in pilot-scale at the Beijing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Beix- iaohe. The main objectives included advanced nutrient removal and eutrophication control of scenic impound- ments, reuse for irrigation and urban reuse. Based on the plans for the Olympic Green and the extension of the WWTP Beixiaohe, a reuse concept has doi: 10.2166/wst.2008.186 909 Q IWA Publishing 2008 Water Science & Technology—WST | 57.6 | 2008 Downloaded from https://iwaponline.com/wst/article-pdf/57/6/909/438777/909.pdf by guest on 23 May 2020