A Study on Membrane Fouling Control by Immobilized Microbial Media for Nitrification in Membrane Bioreactor

Abstract

In order to control membrane fouling in the MBR process, energy consumption by membrane cleaning is high as critical flux down operation, influent pre-treatment, and membrane cleaning (air cleaning, back washing, chemical cleaning) needs to be taken to control membrane fouling and reduce energy consumption at the same time. It is energy-effective to apply granular materials as scouring agent other than air to increase membrane fouling control and reduce the amount of air. In this study, nitrifier immobilized media of PVA material can be applied as scouring agent to reduce membrane fouling and it is possible to replace the MLSS of high concentration, which can reduce membrane fouling factors such as EPS and SMP that inducing membrane pore blocking. The transmembrane pressure difference was analyzed in case of flux 17 L/m 2 /h and 21, 24 L/m 2 /h respectively, there was almost no difference between the MBR and MMBR in the flux 17 L/m 2 /h but the pressure of 21, 24 L/m 2 /h increased to 242%, 485% in MBR and increased 64%, 225% in MMBR. Also, high concentration of NH 3-N over 100 mg/L was 100% nitrified all together at HRT 6 h.