Development and start up of a gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor (Gl-AnMBR) for conversion of sewage to energy, water and nutrients

► A lab-scale gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor (Gl-AnMBR), using a tubular PVDF membrane, was developed and studied over a 100 d period to treat synthetic sewage. ► The permeate flux was 10-15 LMH when the membrane was maintained weekly through manual backwash and cleaning. ► The permeate flux averaged 50 LMH when the membrane was operated on an automated, scheduled backwash routine (5 min duration at 4 h interval). ► Gl-AnMBR removed 98% and 95% of COD and TOC, respectively. ► Most of the nitrogen (95.5%) and phosphorus (93.4%) added to the reactor were solubilized and recovered in the permeate after 100 d.