Polymeric compounds in activated sludge supernatant — Characterisation and retention mechanisms at a full-scale municipal membrane bioreactor

In this study, for the first time a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was investigated with focus on organic compounds in activated sludge over a period of approximately 2 years. Soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the sludge supernatant and permeate as well as bound EPS extracted from fouled membranes were determined photospectrometrically and revealed a typical composition of three main components in the order metals>humic acids>carbohydrates>proteins. Results showed an important influence on membrane fouling by soluble humic substances and carbohydrates in complexes with metal cations. It was found that Fe2+ and Fe3+ play a decisive role in natural organic matter (NOM) complexation and subsequent membrane blockage. The determination of molar mass distribution in supernatant and permeate by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) revealed a significant retention of macromolecular compounds by the porous membranes in the range of 10–50%.