Bio-membrane based integrated systems for nitrogen recovery in wastewater treatment: Current applications and future perspectives

Abstract

Nitrogen removal is crucial in wastewater treatment process as excessive nitrogen content could result in eutrophication and degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, to satisfy the fast-growing need of fertilizers due to an increase in human population, recovering nitrogen from wastewater is of the most sustainable approach. Currently, the membrane technique integrated with biological processes namely bio-membrane based integrated system (BMIS) is a promising technology for recovering nitrogen from wastewater, including osmotic membrane bioreactors, bioelectrochemical systems and membrane photobioreactors. In this review study, the nitrogen recovery in different BMHSs, the role of operational parameters and the nitrogen recovery mechanism were discussed. Apart from this, the implementation of nitrogen recovery at pilot- and full-scale was summarized. Perspectives on the major challenges and recommendations of the BMIS for the nitrogen recovery in wastewater treatment were proposed, in which the integrated technologies and more scale-up studies regarding nitrogen recovery by the BMISs were also highlighted and recommended.

Keywords: Ammonium recovery; Bio-membrane based integrated systems; Nitrogen recovery; Wastewater.