Chapter 12 - An Integrated Analysis of Sustainable Human-Water Interactions in Wetland Ecosystems of Taihu Lake Basin, East China

Abstract

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) has gained considerable attention for wastewater treatment and reuse in China. However, its use is currently limited, because of the high capital and operating costs. In this paper, the development of MBR for wastewater treatment and reuse in China were reviewed, and the cost analysis were also discussed. Two types of costs are considered, capital costs and operating costs. Capital costs include the fixed costs and the membrane units costs. For ceramic, submerged and side-stream MBRs, the membrane costs is amount to 59% - 68%, 36% - 52% and 20.5% of the total capital costs, respectively. Operating costs comprise energy consumption, membrane replacement, chemicals, wastewater and sludge disposal, plant maintenance and repairs. Energy consumption and the overall costs associated with membrane module replacement are dominant components of the total operation costs. Operation costs of submerged MBR is only 63% of side-stream MBR, because submerged MBR has a low energy consumption. The dominant components of operating costs for ceramic MBR and side-stream MBR are energy consumption costs. The energy consumption of side-stream MBR is very high (3 - 5 kWh/m(3)), about 49% - 65% of total operating costs.