The characteristics of extracellular polymeric substances and soluble microbial products in moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactor

This study compared the performance between membrane-coupled moving bed biofilm reactor (M-MBBR) and a conventional membrane bioreactor (MBR) in parallel. Extensive tests were conducted in three pilot-scale experimental units over 6 months. Emphasis was placed on the factors that would affect the performance of membrane filtration. The results showed that the concentrations of soluble microbial product (SMP), colloidal total organic carbon and transparent exopolymer particles in the M-MBBR systems were not significantly different from those in the control MBR system. However, the fouling rates were much higher in the M-MBBR systems as compared to the conventional MBR systems. This indicates membrane fouling potential was related not only to the concentration of SMP, but also to their sources and characteristics. The addition of polyaluminum chloride could reduce the fouling rate of the moving bed biofilm reactor unit by 56.4–84.5% at various membrane fluxes.

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Bacterial biofilm and extracellular polymeric substances in the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor for wastewater treatment: A review

Bioresource Technology ◽

10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126476 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 126476

Author(s):

Kumari Uma Mahto ◽

Surajit Das

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Biofilm Reactor ◽

Bacterial Biofilm ◽

Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor ◽

Moving Bed

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Essential factors of an integrated moving bed biofilm reactor–membrane bioreactor: Adhesion characteristics and microbial community of the biofilm

Bioresource Technology ◽

10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.136 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 211 ◽

pp. 574-583 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Bing Tang ◽

Chunfei Yu ◽

Liying Bin ◽

Yiliang Zhao ◽

Xianfeng Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Biofilm Reactor ◽

Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor ◽

Moving Bed

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Biomass Characteristics and Their Effect on Membrane Bioreactor Fouling

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24162867 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (16) ◽

pp. 2867 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Petros K. Gkotsis ◽

Anastasios I. Zouboulis

Keyword(s):

Membrane Fouling ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Suspended Solids ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Membrane Surface ◽

Membrane Resistance ◽

Soluble Microbial Products ◽

Gelling Properties ◽

Microbial Products ◽

Soluble Part

Biomass characteristics are regarded as particularly influential for fouling in Membrane Bio-Reactors (MBRs). They primarily include the Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS), the colloids and the Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS). Among them, the soluble part of EPS, which is also known as Soluble Microbial Products (SMP), is the most significant foulant, i.e., it is principally responsible for membrane fouling and affects all fundamental fouling indices, such as the Trans-Membrane Pressure (TMP) and the membrane resistance and permeability. Recent research in the field of MBRs, tends to consider the carbohydrate fraction of SMP (SMPc) the most important characteristic for fouling, mainly due to the hydrophilic and gelling properties, which are exhibited by polysaccharides and allow them to be easily attached on the membrane surface. Other wastewater and biomass characteristics, which affect indirectly membrane fouling, include temperature, viscosity, dissolved oxygen (DO), foaming, hydrophobicity and surface charge. The main methods employed for the characterization and assessment of biomass quality, in terms of filterability and fouling potential, can be divided into direct (such as FDT, SFI, TTF100, MFI, DFCM) or indirect (such as CST, TOC, PSA, RH) methods, and they are shortly presented in this review.

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