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Membranes
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Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors
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Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 13387

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rosalinda Mazzei

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Guest Editor
Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council, ITM-CNR, 87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: biocatalytic membrane reactor; innovative integrated membrane processes; bioengineering and bioseparation; membrane bioreactors; magnetic nanoparticle bioconjugates; biorefinery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carolina Astudillo Castro

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Guest Editor
Laboratorio de Membranas - Escuela de Alimentos - Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas y de los Alimentos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
Interests: value added to agri-food production; bioengineering of agri-food processes; membrane technology applied to the food industry
Prof. Dr. Andrés Illanes

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Guest Editor
School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil, Valparaíso 2085, Chile
Interests: biocatalysis and bioreactor design and operation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Membrane reactors combine a catalyst restricted to a physical space, and advanced molecular separation intensifies chemical reactions through the effects of separation and reaction. In the case of membrane reactors for process intensification, photocatalytic, inorganic, and enhanced membrane reactors (sorption-, biogas-lift or water-gas-shift) are being developed. Additionally, when the catalyst is biological, such as enzymes or microorganisms, the concept shifts to membrane bioreactors, an advanced membrane reactor. Membrane bioreactors are typically based on microfiltration or ultrafiltration systems, using flat-sheet, tubular, or hollow-fiber membrane modules. However, processes such as nanofiltration, membrane distillation, and forward osmosis become an alternative to conventional MF/UF membrane bioreactors.

This Special Issue on “Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors” invites contributions to appraise the state-of-the-art developments in the field of non-conventional membrane reactors and bioreactors and their applications for energy conversion, hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, water and wastewater treatment, food processing, ingredient production, and bioactive compound recovery from agricultural wastes, among others.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) advanced membrane (bio)reactors, their operation, fouling, cleaning, module design, novel membranes, modeling and simulation, potential benefits, and challenges to be overcome for successful implementation and commercialization.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Rosalinda Mazzei
Dr. Carolina Astudillo Castro
Prof. Dr. Andrés Illanes
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

  • membrane reactor (MR)
  • membrane bioreactor (MBR)
  • photocatalytic MR
  • enhanced MR
  • microreactors
  • anaerobic MBR
  • biocatalytic membrane
  • nanofiltration MBR
  • membrane distillation MBR
  • forward osmosis MBR

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 6491 KiB  
Article
Cleaner Biofuel Production via Process Parametric Optimization of Nonedible Feedstock in a Membrane Reactor Using a Titania-Based Heterogeneous Nanocatalyst: An Aid to Sustainable Energy Development
by Maria Ameen, Muhammad Zafar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mamoona Munir, Islem Abid, Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa, Mohammad Athar, Trobjon Makhkamov, Oybek Mamarakhimov, Akramjon Yuldashev, Khislat Khaydarov, Afat O. Mammadova, Laziza Botirova and Zokirjon Makkamov
Membranes 2023, 13(12), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13120889 - 27 Nov 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2570
Abstract
Membrane technology has been embraced as a feasible and suitable substitute for conventional time- and energy-intensive biodiesel synthesis processes. It is ecofriendly, easier to run and regulate, and requires less energy than conventional approaches, with excellent stability. Therefore, the present study involved the [...] Read more.
Membrane technology has been embraced as a feasible and suitable substitute for conventional time- and energy-intensive biodiesel synthesis processes. It is ecofriendly, easier to run and regulate, and requires less energy than conventional approaches, with excellent stability. Therefore, the present study involved the synthesis and application of a highly reactive and recyclable Titania-based heterogeneous nanocatalyst (TiO2) for biodiesel production from nonedible Azadhiracta indica seed oil via a membrane reactor, since Azadhiracta indica is easily and widely accessible and has a rich oil content (39% w/w). The high free fatty acids content (6.52 mg/g KOH) of the nonedible oil was decreased to less than 1% via two-step esterification. Following the esterification, transesterification was performed using a heterogeneous TiO2 nanocatalyst under optimum conditions, such as a 9:1 methanol–oil molar ratio, 90 °C reaction temperature, 2 wt.% catalyst loading, and an agitation rate of 600 rpm, and the biodiesel yield was optimized through response surface methodology (RSM). Azadhiracta indica seed oil contains 68.98% unsaturated (61.01% oleic acid, 8.97% linoleic acid) and 31.02% saturated fatty acids (15.91% palmitic acid, 15.11% stearic acid). These fatty acids transformed into respective methyl esters, with a total yield up to 95% achieved. The biodiesel was analyzed via advanced characterization techniques like gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), whereas the catalyst was characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Due to its physicochemical properties, Azadirachta indica seed oil is a highly recommended feedstock for biodiesel production. Moreover, it is concluded that the Titania-based heterogeneous nanocatalyst (TiO2) is effective for high-quality liquid fuel synthesis from nonedible Azadirachta indica seed oil in a membrane reactor, which could be an optional green route to cleaner production of bioenergy, eventually leading to sustenance, robustness, and resilience that will aid in developing a holistic framework for integrated waste management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors)
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20 pages, 8238 KiB  
Article
A Mechanistic Model for Hydrogen Production in an AnMBR Treating High Strength Wastewater
by Gino Vera, Felipe A. Feijoo and Ana L. Prieto
Membranes 2023, 13(11), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13110852 - 25 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1807
Abstract
In the global race to produce green hydrogen, wastewater-to-H2 is a sustainable alternative that remains unexploited. Efficient technologies for wastewater-to-H2 are still in their developmental stages, and urgent process intensification is required. In our study, a mechanistic model was developed to [...] Read more.
In the global race to produce green hydrogen, wastewater-to-H2 is a sustainable alternative that remains unexploited. Efficient technologies for wastewater-to-H2 are still in their developmental stages, and urgent process intensification is required. In our study, a mechanistic model was developed to characterize hydrogen production in an AnMBR treating high-strength wastewater (COD > 1000 mg/L). Two aspects differentiate our model from existing literature: First, the model input is a multi-substrate wastewater that includes fractions of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Second, the model integrates the ADM1 model with physical/biochemical processes that affect membrane performance (e.g., membrane fouling). The model includes mass balances of 27 variables in a transient state, where metabolites, extracellular polymeric substances, soluble microbial products, and surface membrane density were included. Model results showed the hydrogen production rate was higher when treating amino acids and sugar-rich influents, which is strongly related to higher EPS generation during the digestion of these metabolites. The highest H2 production rate for amino acid-rich influents was 6.1 LH2/L-d; for sugar-rich influents was 5.9 LH2/L-d; and for lipid-rich influents was 0.7 LH2/L-d. Modeled membrane fouling and backwashing cycles showed extreme behaviors for amino- and fatty-acid-rich substrates. Our model helps to identify operational constraints for H2 production in AnMBRs, providing a valuable tool for the design of fermentative/anaerobic MBR systems toward energy recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors)
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17 pages, 3206 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrading with MBR Implementation
by Nikolay Makisha
Membranes 2023, 13(8), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13080746 - 21 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
Modernization of wastewater treatment plants is usually caused by their significant wear and changes in the flow rate and concentration of pollutants. If there is no initial data on the flow or pollution, their determination by calculation is required, which may lead to [...] Read more.
Modernization of wastewater treatment plants is usually caused by their significant wear and changes in the flow rate and concentration of pollutants. If there is no initial data on the flow or pollution, their determination by calculation is required, which may lead to an increase in concentration. Within the study, the modernization of treatment facilities was estimated under conditions of reduced flow and increased pollution concentration. Calculations were carried out both manually and using the CapdetWorks software package. The focus was on secondary treatment facilities as the main element of the municipal wastewater treatment plant within their upgrade from only organic pollutants removal (plug–flow reactor) to removal of both organic pollutants and nutrients (technology of the University of Cape Town). The calculations of tank volumes have shown that the concentration of pollutants has a much greater impact on them than the change in flow, especially when improvement in the treatment quality is required. The study revealed that membrane sludge separation allows tanks to be reduced in volume by 1.5–2.5 times (depending on the value of mixed liquor suspended solids) in comparison with gravity separation, which means smaller capital costs. However, membrane application requires significant energy costs for membrane aeration. For the initial data of the study, the specific energy costs for aeration before the upgrade, after the upgrade (gravity separation), and after the upgrade (membrane separation) were 0.12 kWh/m3, 0.235 kWh/m3, and 0.3 kWh/m3, respectively. If the membrane lifetime is 10 years, membrane costs were determined to be 10–15% of the energy costs for aeration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors)
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14 pages, 1739 KiB  
Article
Impact of Integration of FO Membranes into a Granular Biomass AnMBR for Water Reuse
by Pere Olives, Lucie Sanchez, Geoffroy Lesage, Marc Héran, Ignasi Rodriguez-Roda and Gaetan Blandin
Membranes 2023, 13(3), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13030265 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1683
Abstract
The granular sludge based anaerobic membrane bioreactor (G-AnMBR) has gained emphasis in the last decade by combining AnMBR advantages (high quality permeate and biogas production towards energy positive treatment) and benefits of granular biomass (boosted biological activity and reduced membrane fouling). With the [...] Read more.
The granular sludge based anaerobic membrane bioreactor (G-AnMBR) has gained emphasis in the last decade by combining AnMBR advantages (high quality permeate and biogas production towards energy positive treatment) and benefits of granular biomass (boosted biological activity and reduced membrane fouling). With the aim to further reduce energy costs, produce higher quality effluent for water reuse applications and improve system efficiency, a forward osmosis (FO) system was integrated into a 17 L G-AnMBR pilot. Plate and frame microfiltration modules were step by step replaced by submerged FO ones, synthetic wastewater was used as feed (chemical oxygen demand (COD) content 500 mg/L), with hydraulic retention time of 10 h and operated at 25 °C. The system was fed with granular biomass and after the acclimation period, operated neither with gas sparging nor relaxation at around 5 L.m−2.h−1 permeation flux during at least 10 days for each tested configuration. Process stability, impact of salinity on biomass, the produced water quality and organic matter removal efficiency were assessed and compared for the system working with 100% microfiltration (MF), 70% MF/30% FO, 50% MF/50% FO and 10% MF/90% FO, respectively. Increasing the FO share in the reactor led to salinity increase and to enhanced fouling propensity probably due to salinity shock on the active biomass, releasing extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the mixed liquor. However, above 90% COD degradation was observed for all configurations with a remaining COD content below 50 mg/L and below the detection limit for MF and FO permeates, respectively. FO membranes also proved to be less prone to fouling in comparison with MF ones. Complete salt mass balance demonstrated that major salinity increase in the reactor was due to reverse salt passage from the draw solution but also that salts from the feed solution could migrate to the draw solution. While FO membranes allow for full rejection and very high permeate purity, operation of G-AnMBR with FO membranes only is not recommended since MF presence acts as a purge and allows for reactor salinity stabilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors)
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19 pages, 5987 KiB  
Article
Development of a Multichannel Membrane Reactor with a Solid Oxide Cell Design
by Hong Huang, Ziyue Guo, Remzi Can Samsun, Stefan Baumann, Nikolaos Margaritis, Wilhelm Albert Meulenberg, Ralf Peters and Detlef Stolten
Membranes 2023, 13(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020120 - 17 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1697
Abstract
In this study, we aim to adapt a solid oxide cell (SOC) to a membrane reactor for general chemical reactions to leverage the readily available multichannel design of the SOC. As a proof-of-concept, the developed reactor is tested for syngas production by the [...] Read more.
In this study, we aim to adapt a solid oxide cell (SOC) to a membrane reactor for general chemical reactions to leverage the readily available multichannel design of the SOC. As a proof-of-concept, the developed reactor is tested for syngas production by the partial oxidation of methane using oxygen ion transport membranes (ITMs) to achieve oxygen separation and permeation. A La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) membrane and Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst are used for oxygen permeation and the partial oxidation of methane, respectively. ANSYS Fluent is used to assess the reactor performance with the help of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The membrane permeation process is chemical kinetics achieved by user-defined functions (UDFs). The simulation results show that the oxygen permeation rate depends on the temperature, air, and fuel flow rates, as well as the occurrence of reactions, which is consistent with the results reported in the literature. During isothermal operation, the product composition and the species distribution in the reactor change with the methane flow rate. When the molar ratio of fed methane to permeated oxygen is 2.0, the methane conversion and CO selectivity reach a high level, namely 95.8% and 97.2%, respectively, which agrees well with the experimental data reported in the literature. Compared to the isothermal operation, the methane conversion of the adiabatic operation is close to 100%. Still, the CO selectivity only reaches 61.6% due to the hot spot formation of 1491 K in the reactor. To reduce the temperature rise in the adiabatic operation, reducing the methane flow rate is an approach, but the price is that the productivity of syngas is sacrificed as well. In conclusion, the adaption of the SOC to a membrane reactor is achieved, and other reaction applications can be explored in the same way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors)
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10 pages, 2616 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Fouling Control and Energy Consumption in a Pilot-Scale, Low-Energy POREFLON Non-Aerated Membrane Bioreactor (LEP-N-MBR) System at Different Frequencies and Amplitudes
by Runzhang Zuo, Yubin Yu, Canhui Song, Muxiang Liang, Xiejuan Lu, Dajun Ren, Xiaohui Wu and Feixiang Zan
Membranes 2022, 12(11), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12111085 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2142
Abstract
Continual aeration, a fouling control strategy that causes high energy consumption, is the major obstacle in the deployment of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. In recent years, a technology has been developed which adopts mechanical reciprocity for membrane vibration, and it has [...] Read more.
Continual aeration, a fouling control strategy that causes high energy consumption, is the major obstacle in the deployment of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. In recent years, a technology has been developed which adopts mechanical reciprocity for membrane vibration, and it has been proven efficient for membrane scouring, as well as for saving energy: the low-energy POREFLON non-aerated membrane bioreactor (LEP-N-MBR). In this study, a pilot-scale LEP-N-MBR system was designed, established, and operated at various frequencies and amplitudes, and with various membrane models, so as to evaluate energy usage and membrane fouling. The results showed that a slower TMP rise occurred when the frequency and amplitude were set to 0.5 Hz and 10 cm, respectively. Under a suitable frequency and amplitude, the TMP increasing rate of model B (sealed only with epoxy resin) was slower than that of model A (sealed with a combination of polyurethane and epoxy resin). The average specific energy demand (SED) of the LEP-N-MBR was 0.18 kWh·m−3, much lower than the aerated MBR with 0.43 kWh·m−3 (obtained from a previous study), indicating a significant decrease of 59.54% in the SED. However, the uneven distribution of sludge within the membrane tank indicated that the poor hydraulic mixing in the reactor may result in sludge accumulation, which requires further operational optimization. The findings of this pilot-scale study suggest that the LEP-N-MBR system is promising and effective for municipal wastewater treatment with a much lower level of energy usage. More research is needed to further optimize the operation of the LEP-N-MBR for wide application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Membrane (Bio)Reactors)
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