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Membranes
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Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Wastewater Treatment
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Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Wastewater Treatment

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2018)

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gaetano Di Bella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Architecture, Università degli Studi di Enna "Kore", 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: membrane bioreactor; membrane fouling; wastewater treatment; full-scale and lab-scale plant; biological treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniele Di Trapani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Materials Engineering, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Interests: materials science; biofilm reactors; wastewater treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few years, membrane bioreactors (MBR) have appeared and have become one of the best advanced technologies, being increasingly implemented for wastewater treatment due to its ability to comply with stringent requirements, in terms of quality standards for final discharge. The main advantages of MBR systems include a higher effluent quality, also in terms of pathogenic bacteria, a lower ecological footprint, and lower sludge production. Nevertheless, despite several advantages, these systems can be affected by serious problems due to fouling, which represents the greatest drawback of MBRs, limiting its widespread application.

MBR efficiency and operation are strongly influenced by complex interactions of biomass with membranes during filtration. In particular, the so-called "cake layer" can develop differently on a membrane surface, promoting various fouling mechanisms, either external or internal. Indeed, it can negatively affect total filtration resistance, but it also can exert a positive effect as a "pre-filter". Membranes are usually subjected to periodic cleaning via routine physical cleaning (specifically, permeate backwashing in hollow fiber membranes) or extraordinary cleaning actions (i.e., a combination of physical action and chemically-enhanced backflushing). Physical cake layer removal with a routine physical action is crucial for sustaining permeability, and the effects of different physical cleaning methods are still poorly understood and need to be further addressed.

In light of this, this Special Issue will focus on original research papers with the aim of defining, on one hand, the strengths of MBR technology for the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater, while, on the other hand, the influence on "membrane life" and consequent aspects of economic and managerial investment.

With the aim of improving the knowledge level, this Special Issue promotes advanced scientific contributions based on bibliographic reviews and critical experimental discussions. Moreover, the results of ad hoc investigations can be presented and discussed, with the aim of strengthening the reliability and reproducibility of specific protocols for detailed membrane fouling analyses and the evolution of different internal or external mechanisms of deposition.

Prof. Dr. Gaetano Di Bella
Dr. Daniele Di Trapani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Cake Layer
  • Foulants
  • Fouling
  • MBR
  • Membrane
  • Model
  • Pore blocking
  • Resistance

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1823 KiB  
Article
Fouling Mitigation and Wastewater Treatment Enhancement through the Application of an Electro Moving Bed Membrane Bioreactor (eMB-MBR)
by Jessa Marie J. Millanar-Marfa, Laura Borea, Mark Daniel G. De Luna, Florencio C. Ballesteros, Jr., Vincenzo Belgiorno and Vincenzo Naddeo
Membranes 2018, 8(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes8040116 - 22 Nov 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6426
Abstract
High operational cost due to membrane fouling propensity remains a major drawback for the widespread application of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. As a result, studies on membrane fouling mitigation through the application of integrated processes have been widely explored. In this work, the [...] Read more.
High operational cost due to membrane fouling propensity remains a major drawback for the widespread application of membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. As a result, studies on membrane fouling mitigation through the application of integrated processes have been widely explored. In this work, the combined application of electrochemical processes and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology within an MBR at laboratory scale was performed by applying an intermittent voltage of 3 V/cm to a reactor filled with 30% carriers. The treatment efficiency of the electro moving bed membrane bioreactor (eMB-MBR) technology in terms of ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) and orthophosphate (PO4-P) removal significantly improved from 49.8% and 76.7% in the moving bed membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) control system to 55% and 98.7% in the eMB-MBR, respectively. Additionally, concentrations of known fouling precursors and membrane fouling rate were noticeably lower in the eMB-MBR system as compared to the control system. Hence, this study successfully demonstrated an innovative and effective technology (i.e., eMB-MBR) to improve MBR performance in terms of both conventional contaminant removal and fouling mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Wastewater Treatment)
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10 pages, 1856 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Mechanically-Imposed Shear on Clogging, Fouling and Energy Demand for an Immersed Membrane Bioreactor
by Simon Judd, Albert Odai, Pompilia Buzatu and Hazim Qiblawey
Membranes 2018, 8(4), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes8040104 - 10 Nov 2018
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3934
Abstract
The impact of the application of mechanically-imposed shear on the propensity for fouling and clogging (or “sludging”—the agglomeration of sludge solids in the membrane channel) of an immersed flat sheet (iFS) membrane bioreactor (MBR) was studied. The bench-scale test cell used contained a [...] Read more.
The impact of the application of mechanically-imposed shear on the propensity for fouling and clogging (or “sludging”—the agglomeration of sludge solids in the membrane channel) of an immersed flat sheet (iFS) membrane bioreactor (MBR) was studied. The bench-scale test cell used contained a single flat sheet fitted with a crank and motor to allow the membrane to be oscillated (or reciprocated) vertically at a low rate (20 RPM). The membrane was challenged with sludge samples from a local MBR installation treating petroleum industry effluent, the sludge having previously been demonstrated as having a high sludging propensity. Sludging was measured by direct visual observation of membrane surface occlusion by the agglomerated solids, with fouling being notionally represented by the rate of transmembrane pressure increase. Results demonstrated membrane reciprocation to have a more beneficial impact on sludging amelioration than on suppressing fouling. Compared with the stationary membrane, sludging was reduced by an average of 45% compared with only 13% for fouling suppression at the reference flux of 15 L·m−2·h−1 applied. The specific energy demand of the mechanical shear application was calculated as being around 0.0081 kWh·m−3, significantly lower than values reported from a recent pilot scale study on a reciprocated immersed hollow fibre MBR. Whilst results appear promising in terms of energy efficiency, it is likely that the mechanical complexity of applying membrane movement would limit the practical application to low flows, and a correspondingly small number of membrane modules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Wastewater Treatment)
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10 pages, 2964 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Performance of a Full-Scale Membrane Plant for Landfill Leachate Pretreatment: A Case Study
by Ester Coppini, Laura Palli, Donatella Fibbi and Riccardo Gori
Membranes 2018, 8(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes8030052 - 1 Aug 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3607
Abstract
This paper presents a case study describing a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the pretreatment of landfill leachates. The treatment train includes an aerated equalization tank, a denitrification tank, an oxidation/nitrification tank, and two ultrafiltration units. The plant has worked continuously since 2008 [...] Read more.
This paper presents a case study describing a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the pretreatment of landfill leachates. The treatment train includes an aerated equalization tank, a denitrification tank, an oxidation/nitrification tank, and two ultrafiltration units. The plant has worked continuously since 2008 treating landfill leachates at a flux of 2–11 L·h−1·m−2. The old train of membranes worked in these conditions for more than seven years prior to being damaged and replaced. The permeability (K) of the membrane varied between 30 and 80 L·h−1·m−2·bar−1 during the years of operation. In 2010, after two years of operation, the oxidation/nitrification tank was changed to work in alternate cycles of aerated and anoxic conditions, in order to improve the denitrification process. The MBR, working at a mean sludge retention time of 144 days and with mixed liquor suspended solids of 17 g/L, achieved high removal rates of conventional contaminants, with more than 98% for Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 96% for ammonium, and 75% for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). From the COD balance, half the COD entering was determined to be biologically oxidized into carbon dioxide, while another 24% remains in the sludge. In order to obtain these results, the company used 5.2 KWh·m−3, while spending 0.79 €·m−3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Wastewater Treatment)
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Review

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29 pages, 2162 KiB  
Review
A Brief Review on the Resistance-in-Series Model in Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs)
by Gaetano Di Bella and Daniele Di Trapani
Membranes 2019, 9(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes9020024 - 1 Feb 2019
Cited by 67 | Viewed by 7566
Abstract
The cake layer deposited on the membrane modules of membrane bioreactors (MBRs), especially under a submerged configuration, represents a relevant and fundamental mechanism deeply influencing the development of membrane fouling. It negatively affects the total resistance to filtration, while exerting a positive effect [...] Read more.
The cake layer deposited on the membrane modules of membrane bioreactors (MBRs), especially under a submerged configuration, represents a relevant and fundamental mechanism deeply influencing the development of membrane fouling. It negatively affects the total resistance to filtration, while exerting a positive effect as a “pre-filter” promoting the “dynamic membrane” that protects the physical membrane from internal fouling. These two opposite phenomena should be properly managed, where the submerged membranes are usually subjected to a periodical cake layer removal through ordinary (permeate backwashing and air scouring) and/or irregular cleaning actions (manual physical cleaning). In this context, the physical removal of the cake layer is needed to maintain the design filtration characteristics. Nevertheless, the proper evaluation of the effect of physical cleaning operations is still contradictory and under discussion, referring in particular to the correct evaluation of fouling mechanisms. The aim of the present work was to summarize the different aspects that influence the fouling investigations, based on simple models for the evaluation of the resistance to filtration due to the cake layer, through physical cleaning operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology for Wastewater Treatment)
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