Hybrid biofilm-membrane bioreactor (Bf-MBR) for minimization of bulk liquid-phase organic substances and its positive effect on membrane permeability

[Display omitted] •Involvement of attached-growth biofilm in Bf-MBR improve membrane permeability when biofilm dominance in bulk.•Biofilm growth and co-existence with suspended solid complicate liquid-phase SMP and BPC content and properties.•Proper fixed carrier volume in Bf-MBR is essential in fou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioresource technology 2015-12, Vol.198, p.772-780
Main Authors: Sun, F.Y., Li, P., Li, J., Li, H.J., Ou, Q.M., Sun, T.T., Dong, Z.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biofilm-MBR
Biofilms
Biofouling
Biological wastewater treatment
Biomass
Biopolymer cluster (BPC)
Biopolymers
Bioreactors
Membrane permeability
Membranes, Artificial
Molecular Weight
Permeability
Soluble microbial products (SMP)
Water Purification - instrumentation
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Summary:[Display omitted] •Involvement of attached-growth biofilm in Bf-MBR improve membrane permeability when biofilm dominance in bulk.•Biofilm growth and co-existence with suspended solid complicate liquid-phase SMP and BPC content and properties.•Proper fixed carrier volume in Bf-MBR is essential in fouling mitigation and membrane permeability maintenance. Four biofilm membrane bioreactors (Bf-MBRs) with various fixed carrier volumes (C:M) were operated in parallel to investigate the effect of attached-growth mode biomass involvement to the change of liquid-phase organics characteristics and membrane permeability, by comparing with conventional MBR. The experiments displayed that C:M and co-existence of biofilm with suspended solids in Bf-MBRs resulted in slight difference in pollutants removal effectiveness, and in rather distinct biomass properties and bacterial activities. The membrane permeability and specific resistance of bulk suspension of Bf-MBRs related closely with the liquid-phase organic substance, including soluble microbial products (SMP) and biopolymer cluster (BPC). Compared with conventional MBR, Bf-MBR with proper C:M had a low total biomass content and food-chain, where biofilm formation and its dominance affected liquid-phase organics, especially through reducing their content and minimizing strongly and weakly hydrophobic components with small molecular weight, and thus to mitigate membrane fouling significantly.
ISSN:0960-8524
1873-2976
DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.09.089