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Abstract The comparison of long-term ceramic membrane bioreactors (MBRs) without and with in-situ ozonation was investigated in this study in terms of membrane fouling, activated sludge, effluent quality and microbial community in wastewater treatment. The optimal dosage of in-situ ozonation for long-term MBR operation was firstly determined as 5 mg/L (0.66 mg-ozone/g-mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS)) with the optimal filterability of mixed liquor. During the long-term filtration experiment, MBR-ozone with in-situ ozonation demonstrated its significantly alleviated ceramic membrane fouling performance compared with MBR-control without in-situ ozonation as a result of the enhanced filterability of mixed liquor and organic foulants removal from membrane surface by in-situ ozonation oxidation. Furthermore, ozonation was beneficial to phosphorus removal and the total phosphorus (TP) concentration in effluent of MBR-control (0.82 ± 0.63 mg/L) was >2-fold higher than that of MBR-ozone (0.29 ± 0.41 mg/L). The improved phosphorus removal performance by ozonation was due to the increased abundance of phosphate accumulating bacteria of Candidatus Accumulibacter in activated sludge. However, ozonation was detrimental to nitrogen removal mainly as a result of the inhibition of denitrification with the decreased relative abundance of denitrification genus of Dechloromonas in activated sludge. Overall, ceramic MBR with in-situ ozonation had not only significantly alleviated membrane fouling but also remarkably improved phosphorus removal performance. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Long-term ceramic MBRs without and with in-situ ozonation were compared. • The optimal filterability of mixed liquor was achieved at ozone dosage of 5 mg/L. • In-situ ozonation significantly alleviated ceramic membrane fouling. • Ozonation was beneficial to phosphorus removal but detrimental to nitrogen removal. • Microbial community of activated sludge was significantly changed by ozonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ferrous dosing is used to reduce phosphorus concentration and alleviate polymeric membrane fouling in membrane bioreactor (MBR). However, limited studies have been conducted to investigate the impacts of ferrous dosing on ceramic membrane fouling, nutrient removal efficiency and microbial community. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intermittent ferrous dosing with Fe/P molar ratios of 2 and 1 (with a dosing frequency of every two days) on the overall nutrient removal, functional microbial changes and membrane fouling in ceramic membrane bioreactors (CMBR) in treatment of wastewater. TP concentration of 10 mg/L in influent decreased to 1.94 ± 0.62 mg/L (control), 0.38 ± 0.22 mg/L (Fe/P = 1) and 0.31 ± 0.18 mg/L (Fe/P = 2) in the effluent, respectively. Meanwhile, the effluent total nitrogen (TN) concentrations with Fe/P = 1 treatment (6.80 ± 2.02 mg/L) and Fe/P = 2 treatment (5.12 ± 2.28 mg/L) were lower than that of the control (7.72 ± 2.36 mg/L). Compared to Fe/P = 1, the TN removal performance was better for Fe/P = 2 mainly due to the increased abundance of denitrifying bacteria (Zoogloea and Acinetobacter). In addition, excess iron dose might have toxic effects on bacterial physiology, however the Fe concentrations that cause cell damage vary for different bacteria. The relative abundance of Zoogloea (aerobic denitrifying bacteria) continuously increased with ferrous addition (Fe/P = 2), while other bacteria including Dechloromonas , Hyphomicrobium and Thauera (anoxic denitrifying bacteria), Nitrospira (nitrifying bacteria) and Candidatus Accumulibacter (phosphorus accumulating organism) decreased sharply. Furthermore, membrane fouling was effectively moderated by ferrous dosing and Fe/P = 1 treatment showed improved membrane fouling mitigation than Fe/P = 2. Overall, intermittent ferrous addition in CMBR with Fe/P molar ratio of 1 was beneficial to the removal of nutrients (TP, TN and organics), enhanced succession of microbial community and membrane fouling mitigation. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Ferrous dosing (Fe/P = 1) is beneficial to phosphorus and nitrogen removal. • Microbial community of activated sludge is significantly changed by ferrous dosing. • Excess iron dose has toxic effects on bacterial physiology. • The optimal fouling control performance is achieved at Fe/P molar ratio of 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]