Reactor performance and membrane fouling of a novel submerged aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor during long-term operation

Abstract The aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor (AGS-MBR) has the potential for simultaneous carbon/nitrogen removal and membrane fouling mitigation. Most studies have focused on comparison of granular sludge MBR and flocculent sludge MBR in short-term tests using synthetic wastewater. In this study, two identical AGS-MBRs were developed, and the reactor performance and membrane fouling were examined systemically over 120 days for synthetic wastewater and municipal sewage treatment, respectively. Results showed that regular granules with good settling ability were developed and maintained throughout the experimental period. Regardless of the substrate type, AGS-MBR demonstrated a stable removal of carbon (85–95%) and nitrogen (50–55%) in long-term operation. In addition, the membrane fouling propensity is apparently lower in AGS-MBRs with no membrane cleaning for 4 months at a flux of 20 L m−2h−1. The filtration resistance analysis indicates that the main membrane resistance was caused by irreversible fouling in both of the reactors. Membrane foulant analysis indicates that proteins in extracellular polymeric substances are more prone to be attached by the membrane of AGS-MBRs because of their hydrophobic nature. This study shows that AGS-MBR is effective and stable for municipal sewage treatment and reuse during long-term operation.

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Rapid reformation of larger aerobic granular sludge in an internal-circulation membrane bioreactor after long-term operation: Effect of short-time aeration

Bioresource Technology ◽

10.1016/j.biortech.2018.11.029 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 273 ◽

pp. 462-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Guangpeng Chen ◽

Liying Bin ◽

Bing Tang ◽

Shaosong Huang ◽

Ping Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Granular Sludge ◽

Aerobic Granular Sludge ◽

Internal Circulation ◽

Term Operation ◽

Short Time

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Investigation of long-term operation and biomass activity in a membrane bioreactor system

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2011.416 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 63 (9) ◽

pp. 1906-1912 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Simos Malamis ◽

Andreas Andreadakis ◽

Daniel Mamais ◽

Constantinos Noutsopoulos

Keyword(s):

Membrane Fouling ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Term Operation ◽

Solids Retention ◽

Biomass Activity ◽

Long Term Performance ◽

Term Performance

The aim of this work was to evaluate the long-term performance of a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) that operated continuously for 2.5 years and to assess membrane fouling and biomass activity under various operating conditions. Furthermore, a method for the characterisation of influent wastewater was developed based on its separation into various fractions. The MBR system operated at the solids retention times (SRT) of 10, 15, 20 and 33 days. The increase of SRT resulted in a decrease of the fouling rate associated with the reduction of extracellular polymeric substances. Moreover, the SRT increase resulted in a significant reduction of the Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) due to the lower availability of substrate and in a notable decrease of the maximum OUR since high SRT allowed the development of slower growing microorganisms. Biomass consisted of small flocs due to extensive deflocculation caused by intense aeration. Finally, the method developed for wastewater characterisation is straightforward and less time consuming than the usual method that is employed.

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Effect of applied voltage on membrane fouling in the amplifying anaerobic electrochemical membrane bioreactor for long-term operation

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/d1ra05500c ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (50) ◽

pp. 31364-31372

Author(s):

Mengjing Cao ◽

Yongxiang Zhang ◽

Yan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Chemical Oxygen Demand ◽

Applied Voltage ◽

Membrane Fouling ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Glucose Solution ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Term Operation ◽

Long Time

A novel and amplifying anaerobic electrochemical membrane bioreactor was constructed and operated for a long time (204 days) with synthetic glucose solution having an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 315 mg L−1, at different applied voltages and room temperatures.

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Performance of membrane bioreactor combined with pre-coagulation/sedimentation

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2004.0017 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 143-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. Itonaga ◽

Y. Watanabe

Keyword(s):

Membrane Fouling ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Suspended Solids ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Municipal Wastewater ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽

Term Operation ◽

Made In

This paper deals with the performance of a hybrid membrane bioreactor (MBR) combined with pre-coagulation/sedimentation. Primary clarifier effluent in a municipal wastewater treatment plant was fed into the hybrid MBR to investigate its performance during long-term operation. Pre-coagulation/sedimentation process efficiently removed the suspended solids including organic matter and phosphorus. Comparison of the hybrid MBR and conventional MBR was made in terms of the permeate quality and membrane fouling. As the organic loading to the MBR was significantly reduced by the pre-coagulation/sedimentation, production and accumulation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) may be limited. Therefore, the mixed liquor viscosity in the hybrid MBR was much lower than that in the conventional MBR. These effect caused by pre-coagulation/sedimentation brought a remarkable improvement in both permeate quality and membrane permeability.

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A real trial of a long-term non-fouling membrane bioreactor for saline sewage treatment

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2011.409 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 63 (7) ◽

pp. 1519-1523 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peng Bai ◽

Jin Wang ◽

Guang-Hao Chen

Keyword(s):

Membrane Fouling ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Membrane Surface ◽

Pilot Trial ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Power Source ◽

Permeate Flux ◽

Mixing Condition ◽

Water Ratio

This paper reports on a pilot trial of a novel MBR developed with coarse-pore membrane module by the authors. The plant was operated for 370 days with up to 7 m3/d raw saline sewage after 3-mm screening. The plant performed successfully without membrane fouling for 270 days except an accidental power source failure for 30 h, during which membrane was fouled under no aeration and mixing condition. EPS increases in both the reactor and the bio-cake on the membrane surface explained this fouling. The average TSS, COD and TKN removal efficiency were 92, 90, and 93%, respectively, under a high effective permeate flux of 4.8 m/d and a low air-to-water ratio of 15.

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