Application of membrane bioreactor technology in treating high strength industrial wastewater: a performance review

This paper reviews the performance of MBR in treating high strength industrial wastewater. The scope covers the operation, constraints and mitigation of the system in general views. High strength wastewater can be successfully treated by using membrane bioreactor (MBR) in different conditions according to the types and characteristics of wastewater and also MBR parameters operational control. High strength wastewater contains fats, oil and grease or other organic or inorganic compounds in great amount according to the types of sources that take part. Several factors need to be taken into consideration during the operation such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), solid retention time (SRT), mix liquor suspended solid (MLSS), food to microorganism (F/M), transmembrane pressure (TMP) and flux. Fouling factors need to be taken seriously because they are the major problems affecting the performance of the MBR and quality of the effluent. There are specific methods to reduce and clean the clogging membrane depending on the level of severity of the fouling. Besides that, the performance of MBR in removing soluble organic waste can be increased by adding a fouling reducer such as powdered activated carbon (PAC).

► Membrane bioreactor is a biological and filtration process combination.
► MBR is good in treating high strength industrial wastewater.
► Membrane bioreactor's main constrain is membrane fouling.
► Fouling mechanisms lead to membrane fouling.
► Fouling mitigation consists of physical, chemical and combination of both.