Feasibility study of moving-fiber biofilm membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment: Process control

Non-biodegradable solid wastes of non-intact membrane fibres/flatsheets and modules disposed from membrane bioreactor (MBR) plants are in a great concern for environmental impact. Estimated cumulative amount of the module solid wastes from European countries in the next five years should be larger than 1000 tons in which a proper management strategy and reuse for the disposed solid waste are urgently required. This article was aimed to propose an alternative to make uses of the non-intact membrane fibres for the aerobic biofilm supports and to study the feasibility on process operation of novel moving-fiber biofilm MBR. A system of moving-fiber biofilm membrane bioreactor was designed and evaluated experimentally, including an upflow anaerobic sludge reactor, an aerobic moving-fiber biofilm reactor, and a submerged membrane filtration unit. Start-up method and operating conditions to control the biofilms growing on the moving fibers were investigated. Organic removal rates, optimum operating conditions for the system, and membrane fouling rates at various membrane aeration rates and permeate fluxes were monitored to evaluate the performance of the proposed BF-MBR process.

Research highlights► An alternative method to reuse the non-intact membrane modules disposed from membrane bioreactor (MBR) plants was proposed. ► Investigations were focused on feasibility study to determine a long-term stability in process operation and a potential for future commercialization. ► New process of movable-fiber biofilm MBR was designed with low suspended solid environment, demonstrated experimentally for wastewater treatment application, and evaluated for membrane fouling.