Enhanced membrane fouling control through Self Forming Dynamic Membrane and sponge-wrapped membrane: A Novel membrane bioreactor.

Abstract

Membrane technology offers a wide variety of advantages in wastewater treatment, but fouling impedes its widespread applications. Hence, in this study, a novel method was tried to control membrane fouling by combining the self-forming dynamic membrane (SFDM) with a sponge-wrapped membrane bioreactor. The configuration is termed a "Novel-membrane bioreactor" (Novel-MBR). To compare the performance of Novel-MBR, a Conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) was operated under similar operating conditions. CMBR and Novel-MBR were run consequently for 60 days and 150 days, respectively. The Novel-MBR was comprised of self-forming dynamic membranes (SFDMs) in two compartments before a sponge-wrapped membrane in the membrane compartment. In Novel-MBR, the formation times for SFDMs on coarse (125μm) and fine (37μm) pore cloth filers were 43 minutes and 13 minutes, respectively. The CMBR experienced more frequent fouling; the maximum fouling rate was 5.83 kPa/d. In CMBR, the membrane fouling due to cake layer resistance (6.92×1012 m-1 ) was high, and that alone contributed to 84% of fouling. In Novel-MBR, the fouling rate was 0.0266 kPa/d and the cake layer resistance was 0.329×1012 m-1 . Also, the Novel-MBR experienced 21 times less reversible fouling and 36 times less irreversible fouling resistance than the CMBR. In Novel-MBR, the formed SFDM and the sponge wrapped on the membrane helped to reduce both reversible and irreversible fouling. With the modification tried in the present study, the Novel-MBR experienced less fouling, and the maximum transmembrane pressure at the end of 150 days of operation was 4 kPa.