Modified membrane bioreactor(mbr) system and method for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) from a flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate

A modified membrane bioreactor (MBR) system for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate, the system comprising:

• an MBR configured to receive a flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate having PFAS therein, the membrane bioreactor including biomass, a diffuser subsystem, and a membrane filter subsystem;
• an impregnation subsystem including at least one impregnation tank and at least one mixer, the impregnation subsystem configured to receive a flow of mixed liquor from the MBR and a predetermined amount granular activated carbon (GAC) reactivation waste product to maintain a predetermined ratio of GAC reactivation waste product to biomass in the MBR and configured to blend the biomass with the GAC reactivation waste product to form GAC reactivation waste product-impregnated biological flocs;
• and
• an outlet coupled to the at least one impregnation tank configured to output a flow of GAC reactivation waste product-impregnated biological flocs to the MBR such that the GAC reactivation waste product-impregnated biological flocs in the MBR adsorb to and remove a majority of the PFAS from the flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate such that the MBR outputs a flow of treated wastewater and/or landfill leachate having a majority of the PFAS removed.

A modified membrane bioreactor (MBR) method for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate, the method comprising:

• receiving a flow of mixed liquor from the MBR and a predetermined amount powered activated carbon (PAC) to maintain a predetermined ratio of PAC to biomass in the MBR;
• blending the biomass with the PAC to form PAC-impregnated biological flocs;
• outputting a flow of PAC-impregnated biological flocs to the MBR such that the PAC-impregnated biological flocs in the MBR adsorb to and remove a majority of the PFAS from the flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate;
• and
• outputting a flow of treated wastewater and/or landfill leachate having a majority of the PFAS removed.

A modified membrane bioreactor (MBR) method for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate, the method comprising:

• receiving a flow of mixed liquor from the MBR and a predetermined amount granular activated carbon (GAC) reactivation waste product to maintain a predetermined ratio of GAC reactivation waste product to biomass in the MBR;
• blending the biomass with the GAC reactivation waste product to form 9 GAC reactivation waste product-impregnated biological flocs;
• outputting a flow of GAC reactivation waste product-impregnated biological flocs to the MBR such that the GAC reactivation waste product-impregnated biological flocs in the MBR adsorb to and remove a majority of the PFAS from the flow of wastewater and/or landfill leachate;
• and
• outputting a flow of treated wastewater and/or landfill leachate having a majority of the PFAS removed.