Optimized coupling of an intermittent DC electric field with a membrane bioreactor for enhanced effluent quality and hindered membrane fouling

Tafti, Alireza Dehghani; Mirzaii, Seyyed Morteza Seyyed; Andalibi, Mohammad Reza; Vossoughi, Manouchehr

doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2015.07.004

Cited by 69 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…Indeed, using a metal (e.g., iron) as an anode can mitigate the deposition of foulants on the membrane surface. Moreover, electrocoagulation changes the mixed liquor characteristics by increasing the elimination of biopolymers, controlling the overgrowth of filamentous bacteria, enhancing sludge settleability and filterability, and improving the removal of heavy metals …”

Section: Fouling Control Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Status and Future Prospects of Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) and Fouling Phenomena: A Systematic Review

et al. 2018

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Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been widely used for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment around the world due to their advantages, which include higher efficiency, smaller footprint, and lower sludge production over other conventional activated sludge (CAS) processes. However, membrane fouling that results from physicochemical interactions between the membrane and the components of the mixed liquor still remains the most challenging matter preventing the broad application of MBR technology. Recently, a considerable number of experimental and modelling investigations have been conducted concerning MBRs and membrane fouling. Despite the development of low‐fouling membrane systems, more research and engineering activities with a focus on surface modification, wastewater specifications, pre‐treatment and treatment conditions, and efficient fouling control and remedy strategies are still needed to minimize the probability of the occurrence of fouling. It is vital to investigate important aspects of the characterization and mechanisms of the fouling phenomenon to find reliable and long‐term solutions. This review provides a detailed survey of the main aspects of the MBR processes, configurations, advantages and disadvantages, fouling phenomenon, and fouling control strategies in MBRs. Past research and engineering activities in this area are critically reviewed such that pros and cons of recent developments in fouling inhibition and mitigation approaches are also discussed. The main practical and theoretical challenges for the effective utilization of MBRs in various municipal and industrial sectors are then addressed. At the end, we offer useful practical guidelines and recommendations for the better design and operation of MBRs in industrial and public communities.

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Section: Fouling Control Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Status and Future Prospects of Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) and Fouling Phenomena: A Systematic Review

et al. 2018

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“…However, when the generated M + is higher than the critical coagulant cations demand (M crit + ), the fouling propensity will increase significantly due to the formation of coagulant oxide which blocks the water from passage through the membrane. Tafti et al [65] The pioneer work on EMBR study based on electrocoagulation principle was first led by Elektorowicz et al [66]. Elektorowicz et al [66] had successfully file a patent of novel wastewater treatment system named submerged membrane electro-bioreactor (SMEBR) which integrates biodegradation, electrocoagulation, electro-sedimentation, and membrane filtration as shown in Figure 10.…”

Section: Electrocoagulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Electrically-enhanced Membrane Bioreactor (EMBR) for Fouling Suppression

Ho¹,

Teow²,

Ang³

et al. 2017

JESTR

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Membrane fouling is the major challenges that hinders the widespread application of membrane bioreactor (MBR). Recently, application of electricity in electrically-enhanced MBR (EMBR) to suppress membrane fouling has gained much attention among research communities. This paper presents an overview of developments on EMBR for fouling suppression in wastewater treatment. The flow of electricity has stimulated several electrokinetic processes including electrophoresis/electrochemical process, and electrocoagulation which are the major fouling suppression mechanisms employed in EMBR. In electrophoresis, the membrane fouling is suppressed by the increased electrorepulsive force between negatively-charged foulants and cathode membrane under the influence of an electric field. Besides, electric field also induces simultaneous electrochemical oxidation and reduction which generate chemicals to degrade pollutant in wastewater. On top of that, use of active anode is reminiscent of electrocoagulation which produces cation coagulants in EMBR that capable to neutralize charge of the foulants and promotes flocs formation. This increases flocs size and sedimentation rate thereafter reduces adhesion of foulants on the membrane surface. Lastly, bioelectricity generation of microbial fuel cell (MFC) integrated with MBR to attain self-sustained EMBR has been studied. Self-sustained EMBR combines the advantages of MFC and MBR in treating wastewater and energy recovery simultaneously. Overall, it is evidenced that MBR and electrokinetic processes have a synergetic enhancement effect in EMBR system.

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“…Optimization of these parameters is, therefore, a must. Tafti et al (2015) studied the impact of CD ranging from 5 to 23 A/m 2 in combination with different DC exposure modes as reported in on activated sludge properties and pollutant removal efficiencies using synthetic municipal wastewater. Results showed that at higher CD (>20 A/m 2 ), eMBR exhibits higher COD, phosphate and ammonia removals as compared to conventional SMBR and that the microbial flocs were able to tolerate the electrical shocks at these values.…”

Section: Operating Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Results showed that at higher CD (>20 A/m 2 ), eMBR exhibits higher COD, phosphate and ammonia removals as compared to conventional SMBR and that the microbial flocs were able to tolerate the electrical shocks at these values. The optimum conditions observed by Tafti et al (2015) were CD = 12.5 A/m 2 and exposure mode equal to 415 s OFF/185 s ON. Other papers employed CD intensities ranging from 10 to 12 A/m 2 in their eMBR studies and obtained similar results (Hasan et al, 2012(Hasan et al, , 2014Hosseinzadeh et al, 2015) (Table 1).…”

Section: Operating Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are two factors being considered for such results: (1) the application of high DC field and (2) excessive metal ion concentration (Bani-Melhem and Elektorowicz, 2011;Tafti et al, 2015). Nitrifying bacteria, which are responsible for the conversion of ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) to nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N), are very much sensitive to high voltage.…”

Section: Pollutants Removalmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Combination of Electrochemical Processes with Membrane Bioreactors for Wastewater Treatment and Fouling Control: A Review

Ensano

Borea

Naddeo

et al. 2016

Front. Environ. Sci.

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This paper provides a critical review about the integration of electrochemical processes into membrane bioreactors (MBR) in order to understand the influence of these processes on wastewater treatment performance and membrane fouling control. The integration can be realized either in an internal or an external configuration. Electrically enhanced membrane bioreactors or electro membrane bioreactors (eMBRs) combine biodegradation, electrochemical and membrane filtration processes into one system providing higher effluent quality as compared to conventional MBRs and activated sludge plants. Furthermore, electrochemical processes, such as electrocoagulation, electrophoresis, and electroosmosis, help to mitigate deposition of foulants into the membrane and enhance sludge dewaterability by controlling the morphological properties and mobility of the colloidal particles and bulk liquid. Intermittent application of minute electric field has proven to reduce energy consumption and operational cost as well as minimize the negative effect of direct current field on microbial activity which are some of the main concerns in eMBR technology. The present review discusses important design considerations of eMBR, its advantages as well as its applications to different types of wastewater. It also presents several challenges that need to be addressed for future development of this hybrid technology which include treatment of high strength industrial wastewater and removal of emerging contaminants, optimization study, cost benefit analysis and the possible combination with microbial electrolysis cell for biohydrogen production.

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Optimized coupling of an intermittent DC electric field with a membrane bioreactor for enhanced effluent quality and hindered membrane fouling

Cited by 69 publications

References 31 publications

Current Status and Future Prospects of Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) and Fouling Phenomena: A Systematic Review

Current Status and Future Prospects of Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) and Fouling Phenomena: A Systematic Review

An Overview of Electrically-enhanced Membrane Bioreactor (EMBR) for Fouling Suppression

Combination of Electrochemical Processes with Membrane Bioreactors for Wastewater Treatment and Fouling Control: A Review

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