Evaluating the feasibility of pyrophyllite-based ceramic membranes for treating domestic wastewater in anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactors

•Pyrophyllite-based ceramic membranes applied to anaerobic membrane bioreactors.•This novel approach achieved higher organic removal and methane yield at long HRTs.•Short HRT operations resulted in substantial levels of sludge washout.

This study laid great emphasis on anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactor (AnCMBR) treatment of domestic wastewater for facile and enhanced energy recovery. To this end, the performance of the natural-based ceramic (i.e., pyrophyllite-based) membranes was mainly explored in this study by evaluating filtration and treatment performances. 92.9 ± 5.5% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and stable methane production were successfully achieved in a bench-scale AnCMBR while maintaining a slightly long hydraulic retention time (HRT). Comparative filtration experiments with commercialized ceramic membranes suggested that the pyrophyllite-based membrane separation in AnCMBR treatment of wastewater at long HRT is feasible. However, short HRT operations resulted in substantial levels of sludge washout. Future improvements of AnCMBR technology in cost-effective ceramic membrane development, increased flux, and harsh environmental conditions would make AnCMBR competitive with anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology.

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