Introducing membrane specie permeability coefficient and economic assessment of polycomposite membrane bioreactor integrated with electric field

A novel estimation of membrane specie permeability coefficient (Ksi) in a polycomposite electro-membrane bioreactor (eMBR) was carried out in this study. The susceptibility of the eMBR to membrane fouling was assessed via the estimation of the temporal variations of Ksi and specific cake resistance (α). These membrane fouling parameters and unit cost of treated water produced from the eMBR are being reported for the first time. The increasing order of Ksifor individual measured contaminants was PO43−-P < COD < NH4+-N < heavy metals. The mean values of Ksi obtained for COD, NH4+-N, PO43−-P, Ni, Fe and Cr were 20, 33, 1.0, 58, 70, and 102 mg/d.m2, respectively. The peak value of α obtained was 33.7 × 109 m/kg. This means that heavy metals were more permeable through the membrane than COD and nutrients and the specific cake filtration was much lower than the typical range. These results were also confirmed by a reduction in the rate of membrane fouling, as established by the peaks and troughs of the transmembrane pressure. With an operational life time of 15 years, the unit cost of treated water obtained was $0.86/m3. This assessment presents the studied method as more cost-competitive than many wastewater treatment approaches.