Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Advanced Membrane Separation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management – Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor Processes and Technologies

How Yong Ng, Tze Chiang Ng, Huu Hao Ngo, Giorgio Mannina, Ashok Pandey

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780128198094
• eBook ISBN: 9780128214176
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Advanced Membrane Separation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management – Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor Processes and Technologies consolidates up-to-date research developments in AeMBR systems for wastewater treatments in terms of membrane materials and decorations, reactor designs and fouling mechanisms. It includes discussions on developments in AeMBR research on energy efficiency and fouling control strategies, gaps, future research and application perspectives. This book is a potential resource for membrane separation and AeMBR practitioners, engineers, scientists, educators and students, and public to understand the latest developments and future prospects in membrane technology.- Provides the latest comprehensive review in various important aspects of AeMBR- Consolidates scattered AeMBR information into a single easily assessible resource- Provides state-of-the-art technology development of membrane separation, AeMBR reactor designs, membrane development, advantages and challenges in operational implementation and their appropriate control strategies- Presents a comprehensive review on Quorum Quenching (QQ) fouling control strategy, QQ benefits and drawbacks- Provides an excellent resource on the latest techniques in characterizing and understanding fouling mechanisms

1

Introduction to aerobic membrane bioreactors: Current status and recent developments

Meijia Zhang^a,*; Eunyoung Lee^b,*; Enrico Vonghia^c; Youngseck Hong^c; Baoqiang Liao^{a a} Department of Chemical Engineering, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
^b KMEC, Seoul, Korea
^c SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, Oakville, ON, Canada
^* Equal contribution.

Abstract

The aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) process is a wastewater treatment technology that combines suspended growth bioreactor with membrane filtration, which is one of the most successful commercial applications of membrane technology. The membrane acts as a barrier, rejecting solid particles while passing permeate through the membrane. The result is a high-quality permeate with very low suspended solids. This book chapter provides a minireview on the current status and recent developments in aerobic MBRs. Aerobic MBR is a mature technology and has been widely used for both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment for very large-scale plants. The major issue of membrane fouling in aerobic MBRs has been well understood, and effective strategies have been developed and implemented for membrane fouling control in full-scale MBR plants. The capital, operating, and energy costs have continuously decreased with the development of new membrane manufacturing technologies, materials, and processes. New applications of aerobic MBRs include removal of emerging pollutants, sludge thickening, dewatering, and reduction. Future development in aerobic MBRs includes the development of new membrane materials, further reduction of energy consumption, and the development of hybrid aerobic MBR processes for high COD/BOD removal and nutrient recovery.

Keywords

Membrane bioreactor; Aerobic treatment; MBR market; MBR development; Membrane fouling; Hybrid MBR; Costs

Chapter outline

• 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Membrane bioreactor (MBR)
• 2 Current status of aerobic MBRs
  • 2.1 Commercial market for aerobic MBRs
  • 2.2 Membrane-fouling control strategies
  • 2.3 Life cycle assessment and economic analysis of aerobic MBRs
• 3 Recent developments of aerobic MBRs
  • 3.1 New developments in membrane and configuration for aerobic MBRs
  • 3.2 Emerging contaminants removal by aerobic MBRs
  • 3.3 Reduction of energy consumptions in aerobic MBRs
  • 3.4 Sludge thickening, dewatering, and reduction
  • 3.5 Wastewater reclamation and reuse by aerobic MBRs
• 4 Further research directions and applications of aerobic MBRs
  • 4.1 Existing technology challenges
  • 4.2 Future development trends
• 5 Conclusions and perspectives
• Acknowledgment
• References
• Further reading

Abbreviations

AGMBR aerobic granular membrane bioreactor

AnMBR anaerobic membrane bioreactor

AsMBR air sparging membrane bioreactor

BEMR bioelectrochemical membrane bioreactor

BOD biological oxygen demand

BOW Beijing Origin Water

CAGR compound annual growth rate

CAPEX capital expenditures

CAS conventional activated sludge

COD chemical oxygen demand

DECs disrupting compounds

DO dissolved oxygen

ECs emerging contaminants

EMBR electrochemical membrane bioreactor

EPS extracellular polymeric substances

FO forward osmosis

GHG greenhouse gas

GO graphene oxide

GVR Grand View Research

HFMBR hybrid biofilm membrane bioreactor

HRT hydraulic retention time

JLMBR jet loop membrane bioreactor

LCA life cycle assessment

MBR membrane bioreactor

MD membrane distillation

MDMBR membrane distillation bioreactor

MF microfiltration

MFC microbial fuel cells

MLSS mixed liquor suspended solids

NFMBR nanofiltration membrane bioreactor

NF nanofiltration

NPV net present value

OM osmotic membranes

OMBR osmotic membrane bioreactor

OPEX operating expenses

PAN polyacrylonitrile

PES polyethersulfone

PPCPs personal care products

PVDF polyvinylidene fluoride

RO reverse osmosis

SMP soluble microbial products

SRMBR submerged rotating membrane bioreactor

SRT solids retention time

THM trihalomethanes

TMP transmembrane pressure

UF ultrafiltration

VSMBR vertical submerged membrane bioreactor

WWTP wastewater treatment plant

Acknowledgment

The authors thank NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) for financial support of this work.

1 Introduction

Global population growth and industrialization has generated a tremendous amount of municipal and industrial wastewater (approximately 450 km³ in 2010) requiring proper treatment and disposal to protect the environment [1]. Every day, over 2 million tons of human waste enter oceans, lakes, and other water bodies without treatment and over 70% of industrial wastewater is untreated in developing counties [2]. This wastewater causes significant health issues, with over 3900 children dying every day of issues related to water quality [2]. Consequently, effective wastewater treatment technologies are extremely important to purify wastewater prior to discharge to the environment [2].

Activated sludge processes have been successfully and widely used for both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment for over a century [3]. The activated sludge process usually consists of a bioreactor for aerobic biodegradation and a secondary clarifier for biomass (sludge) separation from treated effluent. The settled sludge is largely recycled back to the bioreactor to maintain enough biomass for biodegradation, with a small portion of settled sludge wasted. Although activated sludge processes are characterized as being highly efficient for biodegradation, high COD/BOD removal, and relatively low operating and capital costs, one major challenge associated with activated sludge processes is effective biomass flocculation and settling in the secondary clarifier [4]. Sludge bu...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Contributors
• Editors Biography
• Preface
• 1: Introduction to aerobic membrane bioreactors: Current status and recent developments
• 2: Fundamentals of aerobic membrane bioreactors
• 3: Roles of soluble microbial products and extracellular polymeric substances in membrane fouling
• 4: Techniques for understanding mechanisms underlying membrane fouling
• 5: Aerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment
• 6: Aerobic membrane bioreactors for industrial wastewater treatment
• 7: Aerobic membrane bioreactors and micropollutant removal
• 8: Nutrients removal in membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment
• 9: Osmotic membrane bioreactor technology—Concept, potential and challenges
• 10: Advanced membrane bioreactor fouling control and prevention strategies
• 11: Air sparging for fouling control
• 12: Quorum sensing and quorum quenching in membrane bioreactors
• 13: Advanced membrane bioreactors and hybrid membrane bioreactors configurations
• Index