Comparison of the performance of submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) and submerged membrane adsorption bioreactor (SMABR)

Abstract

This study focuses on comparing the performance of submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) and submerged membrane adsorption bioreactor (SMABR) over a period of 20 days at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3.1h. The effects of PAC on critical flux and membrane fouling were also investigated. The SMABR exhibited better results in terms of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) growth, DOC removal (over 96%), COD removal (over 95%), transmembrane pressure (TMP) and oxygen uptake rate. Nearly 100% of bacteria and 100% of total coliforms were removed in both systems. The addition of PAC could maintain the critical flux at a lower TMP value (7.5 kPa), while irreversible fouling caused by PAC occurred when the filtration flux exceeded critical flux.

Simultaneous activated carbon adsorption within a membrane bioreactor for an enhanced micropollutant removal

“…The PAC-amended MBR to date has been mainly studied in relation to membrane fouling mitigation (Guo et al, 2008) and rarely to assess recalcitrant pollutant removal enhancement (Hai et al, 2008). Only one study (Zhang et al, 2008) to date have explored PAC-amended MBR specifically for the removal of micropollutants.…”

Effects of operating conditions on trihalomethanes formation and speciation during chloramination in reclaimed water

“…However, membrane fouling is still an obstacle on the widespread application of MBRs. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) can be combined with MBR for mitigating fouling (Guo et al 2008) because PAC increases the attachment of microorganisms and improves filterability. Furthermore, the adsorption of extracellular polymeric substances can also be enhanced owing to excellent specific surface of PAC.…”

Effect of Activated Carbon Addition with Enhance Performance on a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)

“…The results of soluble protein and carbohydrate as foulant in HMBR system were 7.21 mg/g VSS and 7.78 mg/g VSS, respectively, which are 0.11% and 9.01%, lower than those MBR. The difference is because activated carbon can absorb dissolved organic compound in bulk solution [6], [7], [14], and therefore absorbs the foulant in membrane pore as the cause of internal irrecoverable fouling. is a total resistance, is membrane resistance, is a concentration polarization and gel resistance, and is the pore blocking resistance by organic and inorganic matter [13].…”

“…Preventing membrane fouling will reduce cake layer on membrane surfaces when SMBR is operated at subcritical flux [4], [5], air-scouring, relaxing, backwashing modifying the membrane surface and the addition of activated carbon. Addition of activated carbon (AC) contributes to flux enhancement due to physical scouring of the membrane surface and also improves organics removal by adsorption of dissolved organics [6], [7]. However, the effect of activated carbon on the improvements of submerged membrane bioreactor performance is not clear.…”