CARBON AND NITROGEN REMOVAL FROM TANNERY WASTEWATER WITH A MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR

Treatment of the wastewater coming from the beamhouse section (unhairing and skinning) of a tannery in a membrane sequencing batch reactor of 3.5 L during a period of 150 days with no sludge removal. An important accumulation of organic matter in the reactor was noticed, although the COD effluent was not affected due to the membrane permeation. Removal efficiencies close to 100% in ammonium and 90% in COD were achieved after the treatment of that wastewater loaded with organic matter, suspended solids, sulphides, chlorides and chromium.