Specific approach for membrane fouling control and better treatment performance of an anaerobic submerged membrane bioreactor

Yingnan Liu; Xinbo Zhang; Huu Hao Ngo; Wenshan Guo; Haitao Wen; Lijuan Deng; Yajing Li; Jianbo Guo

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.043

Specific approach for membrane fouling control and better treatment performance of an anaerobic submerged membrane bioreactor

Bioresour Technol. 2018 Nov:268:658-664. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.043. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Authors

Yingnan Liu¹, Xinbo Zhang¹, Huu Hao Ngo², Wenshan Guo³, Haitao Wen¹, Lijuan Deng⁴, Yajing Li¹, Jianbo Guo¹

Affiliations

¹ Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Jinjing Road 26, Tianjin 300384, China.
² Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: ngohuuhao121@gmail.com.
³ Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
⁴ School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.

PMID: 30144739
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.043

Abstract

This paper investigated a strategy to minimize membrane fouling and increase treatment efficiency through an investigation of a specific approach by adding sponges into a conventional submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (CAnSMBR). During the operation, the protein-based soluble microbial products as the main factor affecting the membrane fouling could be reduced by sponge addition in the CAnSMBR (SAnSMBR). Furthermore, reducing HRT from 18 h to 12 h could shorten the membrane fouling cycle to 62% and 87% in CAnSMBR and SAnSMBR, respectively. At the initial of COD/NO₃ ratio ranges from 5 to 4, only 88% of nitrogen in CAnSMBR was removed, while the SAnSMBR could remove more than 90%. TOC removal efficiency could reach more than 95% under a good stirring scenario. It is evident that the SAnSMBR is a promising solution for improving overall CAnSMBR performance and substantially mitigating membrane fouling.

Keywords: Anaerobic submerge membrane bioreactor; Membrane fouling; Municipal wastewater; Sponge; Treatment efficiency.

MeSH terms

Bioreactors*
Membranes, Artificial
Nitrogen
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wastewater

Substances

Membranes, Artificial
Waste Water
Nitrogen