A new membrane bioreactor generation for wastewater treatment application: Strategy of membrane aeration management by sequencing aeration cycles

In the second part of this paper, an optimisation of the aeration demand was carried out by sequencing the cycle of aeration by incorporating a syncope in the aeration. Ratios of the time-on and time-off from 1/2 to 1/5 were tested for various instantaneous aeration flow rates. Impacts on both short term fouling and long term fouling were evaluated and quantified in terms of permeability decrease. The advantages of the location of the membrane in an external cylindrical carter have been demonstrated in terms of operating cost savings with a reduction of specific aeration demand for membranes scouring at 100 to 250 Nl/h m², which is half the classical consumption of the submerged MBR today.