Recent advances in membrane aerated biofilm reactors

Lu, Duowei; Bai, Haoyu; Kong, Fangong; Liss, Steven N.; Liao, Baoqiang

doi:10.1080/10643389.2020.1734432

Cited by 61 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 128 publications

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“…Membrane properties, including surface morphology, porosity, and permeability, have a significant impact on MABR performance as they affect microbial affinity for the membrane and oxygen transfer, which ultimately impact biofilm characteristics and biochemical reaction rates (Syron & Casey 2008a;Lu et al 2020). Improper membrane materials can result in low oxygen transfer rates and poor biomass adhesion, hampering MABR performance with a longer startup phase.…”

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Improper membrane materials can result in low oxygen transfer rates and poor biomass adhesion, hampering MABR performance with a longer startup phase. Membranes in MABRs are typically composed of hydrophobic materials such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polypropylene (PP) to enhance microbial attachment to form a functional biofilm (Hou et al 2013;Lu et al 2020;Xiao et al 2021). A comparative study between PVDF and PP membranes showed that the PVDF membrane exhibited better resistance to pore blocking issues and improved biomass attachment to the MABR because of its higher hydrophilicity and surface roughness (Wu et al 2019).…”

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall, PVDF, PP, and nylon silk are classified as microporous membrane materials which have negligible mass transfer resistance (Janczewski & Trusek-Holownia 2016). These membrane materials are generally favored in lab-scale MABR studies because high oxygen transfer flux through pores promotes aerobic biochemical reaction rates (Syron & Casey 2008a;Nerenberg 2016;Lu et al 2020). However, microporous membrane materials are not used in the pilot-or full-scale applications due to pore-clogging issues, low life span, and low air pressure requirements.…”

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, dense membrane materials are used in commercial MABR units because of their increased strength, durability and decreased likelihood of membrane fouling (Syron & Casey 2008a;Nerenberg 2016;Lu et al 2020). Examples of dense membrane materials include polymethylpentene (PMP) and silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).…”

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ZeeLung MABR by Suez Water Technologies & Solutions, OxyMem MABR by OxyMem Limited, and Fluence MABR by Fluence Corporation, global practitioners and researchers have significantly improved their understanding of the counter-diffusional biological process from the growing number of the pilot-to full-scale installations. Lu et al (2020) reviewed several pilots and full-scale MABR applications for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, but more commercial applications are occurring for different types of wastewater treatment, and long-term operation has been investigated (Guglielmi et al 2020;Nathan et al 2020; Uri-Carreno et al 2021). This paper reviews the further accumulated knowledge and recent advances from the growing commercial installations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent progress using membrane aerated biofilm reactors for wastewater treatment

Wagner

Carlson

et al. 2021

Water Science and Technology

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The membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), which is based on the counter diffusion of the electron donors and acceptors into the biofilm, represents a novel technology for wastewater treatment. When process air or oxygen is supplied, the MBfR is known as the membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR), which has high oxygen transfer rate and efficiency, promoting microbial growth and activity within the biofilm. Over the past few decades, lab-scale studies have helped researchers and practitioners understand the relevance of influencing factors and biological transformations in MABRs. In recent years, pilot- to full-scale installations are increasing along with process modeling. The resulting accumulated knowledge has greatly improved understanding of the counter-diffusional biological process, with new challenges and opportunities arising. Therefore, it is crucial to provide new insights by conducting this review. This paper reviews wastewater treatment advancements using MABR technology, including design and operational considerations, microbial community ecology, and process modeling. Treatment performance of pilot- to full-scale MABRs for process intensification in existing facilities is assessed. This paper also reviews other emerging applications of MABRs, including sulfur recovery, industrial wastewater, and xenobiotics bioremediation, space-based wastewater treatment, and autotrophic nitrogen removal. In conclusion, commercial applications demonstrate that MABR technology is beneficial for pollutants (COD, N, P, xenobiotics) removal, resource recovery (e.g., sulfur), and N2O mitigation. Further research is needed to increase packing density while retaining efficient external mass transfer, understand the microbial interactions occurring, address existing assumptions to improve process modeling and control, and optimize the operational conditions with site-specific considerations.

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Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Membrane Materials Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent progress using membrane aerated biofilm reactors for wastewater treatment

Wagner

Carlson

et al. 2021

Water Science and Technology

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Comparative analysis of floc characteristics and microbial communities in anoxic and aerobic suspended growth processes

Carlson

Nielsen

et al. 2022

Water Environment Research

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A fully anoxic suspended growth process is an appealing alternative to conventional activated sludge (AS) due to considerable aeration reduction and improved carbon processing efficiency for biological nutrient removal (BNR). With development of the hybrid membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) technology, implementation of a fully anoxic suspended growth community in BNR facilities became practical. To better understand potential limitations with the elimination of aeration, we carried out microscopic examination and 16S rRNA gene‐based microbial community profiling to determine how an anoxic suspended growth would differ from the conventional aerobic process in floc characteristics, microbial diversity, microbial temporal dynamics, and community assembly pattern. Fewer filamentous populations were found in the anoxic mixed liquor, suggesting easily sheared flocs. The anoxic microbial community had distinct composition and structure, but its diversity and temporal dynamics were similar to the conventional aerobic community. A variety of well‐studied functional guilds were also identified in the anoxic community. The anoxic microbial community assembly was more stochastic than the conventional aerobic community, but deterministic assembly was still significant with a large core microbiome adapted to the anoxic condition. Practitioner Points Flocs developed under the anoxic conditions had less filamentous backbones, implying reduced flocculation capacity and easily sheared flocs. Knowledge about the ecophysiology of Thauera, Thiothrix, and Trichococcus can help achieve good properties of the anoxic flocs. A diverse microbial community sustainably adapted to the fully anoxic condition, containing a variety of filaments, denitrifiers, and PAOs. The anoxic microbial community displayed a similar degree of diversity and temporal dynamics compared to the aerobic counterpart. The anoxic community's assembly was more stochastic, so it may be less subject to changes in environmental variables.

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Monitoring biofilm thickness using the membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) fingerprint soft sensor to optimize nitrogen removal

Cao,

Cui,

Daigger

2023

Water Environment Research

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The ongoing commercialization and installation of full‐scale membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) stimulate the increasing need to monitor biofilm development. Biofilm thickness in MABRs can be assessed indirectly by plotting the exhaust oxygen purity versus bulk ammonia concentration, defined here as the MABR fingerprint soft sensor. Dynamic simulations with diurnal flow variations of an MABR unit model were implemented over a broad range of biofilm thicknesses and influent conditions consisting of variable C/N ratios and applied ammonia fluxes to assess the utility of the MABR fingerprint. Results show that the continuously decreasing trend of the MABR fingerprint plot slopes can be employed as a useful signal for biofilm thickness control in nitrogen removal processes. This technique is useful in a wide range of influent conditions and is helpful for MABR operators and designers to arrange biofilm thickness control events efficiently and determine where in an overall treatment process the technique can be applied to control biofilm thickness and optimize process performance.Practitioner points The linear relationship between exhaust oxygen purity and bulk ammonia concentration is defined as the MABR fingerprint plot. MABR fingerprint plots are generated for a given biofilm thickness with diurnal flow or short‐term loading variations implemented. Continuously decreasing trends of the MABR fingerprint plot slopes are useful signals for biofilm control in nitrogen removal. The MABR fingerprint is useful over a wide range of influent conditions regarding C/N ratios and applied ammonia fluxes. MABR practitioners can use the fingerprint plots to determine when biofilm control measures should be taken.

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Recent advances in membrane aerated biofilm reactors

Cited by 61 publications

References 128 publications

Recent progress using membrane aerated biofilm reactors for wastewater treatment

Recent progress using membrane aerated biofilm reactors for wastewater treatment

Comparative analysis of floc characteristics and microbial communities in anoxic and aerobic suspended growth processes

Monitoring biofilm thickness using the membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) fingerprint soft sensor to optimize nitrogen removal

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