Moving Bed Research Articles

Short-Cut Design of Double-Layer Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography for Continuous Ternary Mixture Separation: Langmuir Isotherms

Short-Cut Design of Double-Layer Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography for Continuous Ternary Mixture Separation: Langmuir Isotherms

Stability and Convergence Analysis of the Discrete Dynamical System for Simulating a Moving Bed

The efficiency of controlling the simulated moving bed (SMB) has long been a critical issue in the chemical engineering industry. Most existing research relies on finite element methods, which often result in lower control efficiency and are unable to achieve online control. To enhance control over the SMB process, this paper employs the Crank–Nicolson method to develop a discrete dynamical model. This approach allows for the investigation of system stability and convergence, fundamentally addressing the sources of error. During the discretization of partial differential equations (PDEs), two main types of errors arise: intrinsic errors from the method itself and truncation errors due to derivative approximations and the discretization process. Research indicates that for the former, the iterative process remains convergent as long as the time and spatial steps are sufficiently small. Regarding truncation errors, studies have demonstrated that they exhibit second-order behavior relative to time and spatial steps. The theoretical validation shows that the iteration works effectively, and simulations confirm that the finite difference method is stable and performs well with varying SMB system parameters and controller processes. This provides a solid theoretical foundation for practical, real-time online control.

Thermodynamic Evaluation of Hydrogen Production Modes During the Pyrolysis of Ammonia in a Filtration Combustion Moving Bed Reactor

Thermodynamic Evaluation of Hydrogen Production Modes During the Pyrolysis of Ammonia in a Filtration Combustion Moving Bed Reactor

Moving bed biofilm reactor for Pimelodus maculatus reared in RAS: Start-up maturation, bioreactor microbiome and nitrogen removal

Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) are equipment used to remove organic compounds and are frequently tested for aquaculture operations aimed at treating and reusing water. However, a limitation of MBBR is the long maturation period necessary for nitrification to occur efficiently. We evaluated biofilm maturation in MBBR with biomass adhered to support material using enriched medium-NH4Cl and a treatment without enrichment. Two independent recirculating aquaculture systems were established based on a freshwater fish farm that produced a daily total ammonia nitrogen concentration of 1.0 ​mg/L. Each treatment was composed of a reservoir and two experimental bioreactors that received support materials for the colonization of the adhered biomass. The results indicated that the enriched bioreactors performed slower, taking 29 days to reach maturity, while the control treatment matured at 27 days. The species Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii, responsible for acting in the nitrification process became more abundant in the control treatment where it represented 23% of the biofilm composition, while the enriched treatment presented only 3%. The results suggest that the nitrification process in the control treatment performed better than in the enriched bioreactors. However, the use of synthetic media such as NH4Cl and sodium acetate as sources of C:N associated with the Pimelodus maculatus effluent during the start-up process had an important benefit to the maturation time of both bioreactors.

Decolorization of acid orange 7 in moving bed biofilm reactor packed with polyhydroxyalkanoate/activated carbon

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) using various carrier medium has been widely employed in wastewater treatment. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and activated carbon (AC) composite (PHA/AC) as biofilm carrier to enhance MBBR treatment of azo dye acid orange 7 (AO7). Each PHA/AC carrier had a height of 0.40 cm and a cylindrical diameter of 1.25 cm. The biofilm on PHA/AC carrier was characterized using microscopic and chemical analysis. AO7 decolorization efficiency and kinetics were evaluated. The incorporation of AC in PHA was found to promote biofilm growth. Mature biofilm of 2075 ± 79.30 μm was successfully formed on PHA/AC carrier. Compared to a control reactor, the MBBR with 5 % (v/v) PHA/AC exhibited improved decolorization, with decolorization efficiency and first-order rate constant, kAO7, increasing from 78.2 % and 9.90 × 10−4 min−1 to 95.0 % and 1.70 × 10−3 min−1, respectively. The enhancement of decolorization in MBBR was attributed to the presence of anoxic zone within the biofilm that favored the azo bond cleavage. Batch studies on the effects of suspended activated sludge (AS) and biofilm amounts showed an additive effect on decolorization efficiency when combined. The combined suspended AS and biofilm also resulted a 3–4 folds increase in kAO7 value compared to AS alone. The results indicate that PHA/AC was an effective carrier and its biofilm exhibited high decolorizing ability for AO7. The enhancement provided by the PHA/AC biofilm makes it advantageous for developing efficient and environmentally-friendly wastewater treatment systems with compact design and minimal sludge production.

Simulation of Heat and Mass Transfer in a Moving Bed Part-Fluidized Boiler

Abstract Moving bed part-fluidized boiler is a new type of furnace. The new combustion method in the furnace has attracted a lot of attention and shown attractive prospects. Two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed for a 116 MW moving bed part-fluidized boiler to investigate the different combustion patterns of coal particles of different particle sizes inside the furnace chamber. A low-NOX combustion method based on the combination of laminar combustion and fluidized combustion is proposed. By comparing the effects of different air distributions on the fluidization state of coal particles, the air distribution values required for optimal fluidized combustion were obtained. The temperature field and pollutant distribution in the furnace chamber for the conventional combustion method and the new combustion method were also simulated. The results show that the combustion technology combining laminar combustion and fluidization of a moving bed part-fluidized boiler can significantly improve the combustion rate and reduce the NOX concentration at the furnace exit. When the secondary air speed is up to 15 m/s, the coal particles smaller than 5 mm are fully fluidized and burned in the whole furnace chamber. The coal particles larger than 5 mm are burned on the bed. The pollutant emission of the boiler can reach the best condition. The new type of boiler can reach a super clean emission in which the NOX emission value is below 47 mg/m3, and the SO2 emission value is reduced to 0.15 mg/m3.

The CO2 Capture System with a Swing Temperature Moving Bed

Abstract The reduction in CO2 emissions is now a very popular topic. According to the International Energy Agency, CO2 emitted in 2021 was 6% more than that emitted in 2020. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is gaining popularity as a possible solution to climate change. Experts estimate that industry and power plants will be responsible for 19% of total CO2 emissions by 2050. This paper presents the design of a semi-industrial-scale system for CO2 capture based on the moving bed temperature swing adsorption technology. According to the results of laboratory tests conducted by the SINTEF industry, this technology demonstrates high capture efficiency (>85%). The CO2 capture medium involved in adsorption is activated carbon passing through individual sections (cooling, heating, adsorption), where CO2 is bonded and then released. The heat and mass transfer processes are realised on the developed stand. The heat exchangers use steam and water as the heating/cooling medium. The paper reviews the existing solutions and describes the developed in-house design of heat exchangers that will ensure heat transfer conditions being a trade-off between economic and efficiency-related issues of the CO2 capture process. The designed test stand will be installed in a Polish power plant and is expected to meet the method energy intensity target, set at ≤ 2.7 MJ/kg CO2, with a capture efficiency exceeding 85%. The aim of the work was to develop and solve technical problems that would lead to the construction of a CO2 capture station with parameters mentioned above. This stand uses an innovative method where CO2 is captured by contacting the fluid (gases) with solid particles. The heat exchange associated with the heating and cooling of the adsorbent had to be solved. For this purpose, heat exchangers were designed with high thermal efficiency and to prevent the formation of mounds.

Integrated Anaerobic–Aerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor and Biochar Adsorption for the Efficient Removal of Organic Matter and Nutrients from Brazilian Landfill Leachate

Landfill leachate is a complex and highly polluted wastewater that poses significant environmental challenges worldwide. This study proposes an innovative approach to addressing this challenge by developing an integrated anaerobic–aerobic moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and biochar adsorption method for the efficient removal of organic matter and nutrients from landfill leachate. The MBBR provides a suitable environment for the growth of microorganisms that can degrade organic matter and nutrients, while biochar adsorption removes any remaining pollutants that are not biodegradable. The performance of this integrated system was evaluated under different operating conditions, such as the hydraulic retention time and the organic loading rate, to optimize its efficiency and sustainability. The results showed that the integrated system achieved high removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium–nitrogen (NH4-N), and total phosphorus (TP), with maximum removal rates of 98.5% (77% after the anaerobic–aerobic MBBR and 85.4% after biochar adsorption), 91.2% (87% after the anaerobic–aerobic MBBR and 95.9% after biochar adsorption), and 99.9% (92% after the anaerobic–aerobic MBBR and 91.7% after biochar adsorption), respectively. The proposed method offers a promising solution for the treatment of landfill leachate, which is a critical environmental issue worldwide. This study also highlights the importance of developing more effective and sustainable methods for treating landfill leachate, which can have significant impacts on public health and the environment.

Mathematical modelling and comparative analysis of treatment technologies for upgrading wastewater treatment plants: A case study of biofilm reactors in El-Gouna, Egypt

In recent years, Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBRs) have been preferred to conventional processes with suspended biomass. The main reason for this preference is that it can achieve better removal efficiencies than conventional systems with smaller footprints. However, unlocking the full potential of MBBRs in large-scale WWTPs remains challenging in real life. In this study, the performance of three different treatment technologies, Extended Aeration Activated Sludge (EAAS), Hybrid Fixed Bed Biofilm Reactor (HFBBR), and Hybrid Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (HMBBR), was investigated over a year in a WWTP located in El-Gouna, Egypt. The COD removal efficiencies of the three systems were comparable, with the EAAS achieving 93.5%, HFBBR 94%, and HMBRR 95%. Nevertheless, the NH4 removal efficiency of the EAAS was slightly lower (97.5%) than that of the HFBBR and the HMBBR, that achieved a removal efficiency of 98%. BioWin Software was able to mimic the real case of the WWTP of El-Gouna and critically defined all plant limitations and operational data. Different simulations were modeled to test the hydraulic and organic loading capacities of the three systems under different scenarios and operating conditions. The HMBBR system failed to withstand the increase in organic load because of the biomass sloughing effect and subsequently high TSS loads in the settlers. Biomass sloughing overloaded the settlers and lead to biomass loss in the effluent. As the settleability of the HMBBR sludge was significantly lower than for the HFBBR the TSS loss in the effluent happened that much earlier that the moving carrier application had an adverse effect contradicting with the primary purpose of adding media carriers. Model simulations and data analysis findings were used to recommend the most suitable configuration for upgrading an existing system using the attached growth technique with all kinetic parameters and operational conditions. The recommended configuration focuses mainly on the separation of plastic media in a compartment with a very low hydraulic retention time to absorb the incoming shock load.

Life Cycle Assessment of a Water Treatment Plant based on Non-Conventional Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor Process

Life Cycle Assessment of a Water Treatment Plant based on Non-Conventional Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor Process

Penyisihan COD, TSS, dan TN pada Lindi TPA Klotok Menggunakan Anoxic-Oxic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor

Leachate is a liquid containing extracted, dissolved, and suspended materials from waste in a landfill. Leachate from Klotok landfill contains pollutant loads that do not meet the water quality standards, necessitating treatment. In this study, parameters considered were COD, TSS, and TN. Anoxic-Oxic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) was chosen due to its compact footprint, low sludge production, ability to handle high COD loads, and not requiring periodic backwash. Variations including media type, media volume, and Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) were applied to reduce pollutant parameter concentrations. The experiment was conducted in batch-continuous mode. The derived parameter concentrations yielded promising results using a biocube/sponge media in the reactor, constituting 50% of the leachate volume, with an HRT of 45 hours. Upon continuous operation under the best variations for parameter reduction, COD, TSS, and TN values were achieved as 160 mg⁄L, 132 mg⁄L, and 31.5 mg⁄L, respectively. Meanwhile, the average removal percentages for COD, TSS, and TN were 87%, 50%, and 87% respectively. Additionally, microorganism identification was performed in the anoxic-oxic moving bed biofilm reactor, revealing the presence of microorganisms such as coliforms, Bacillus sp., and Pseudomonas sp.

Improvement of MBBR-MBR Performance by the Addition of Commercial and 3D-Printed Biocarriers.

Moving bed biofilm reactor combined with membrane bioreactor (MBBR-MBR) constitute a highly effective wastewater treatment technology. The aim of this research work was to study the effect of commercial K1 biocarriers (MBBR-MBR K1 unit) and 3D-printed biocarriers fabricated from 13X and Halloysite (MBBR-MBR 13X-H unit), on the efficiency and the fouling rate of an MBBR-MBR unit during wastewater treatment. Various physicochemical parameters and trans-membrane pressure were measured. It was observed that in the MBBR-MBR K1 unit, membrane filtration improved reaching total membrane fouling at 43d, while in the MBBR-MBR 13X-H and in the control MBBR-MBR total fouling took place at about 32d. This is attributed to the large production of soluble microbial products (SMP) in the MBBR-MBR 13X-H, which resulted from a large amount of biofilm created in the 13X-H biocarriers. An optimal biodegradation of the organic load was concluded, and nitrification and denitrification processes were improved at the MBBR-MBR K1 and MBBR-MBR 13X-H units. The dry mass produced on the 13X-H biocarriers ranged at 4980-5711 mg, three orders of magnitude larger than that produced on the K1, which ranged at 2.9-4.6 mg. Finally, it was observed that mostly extracellular polymeric substances were produced in the biofilm of K1 biocarriers while in 13X-H mostly SMP.

Process optimization of a moving bed bioreactor undergoing simultaneous nitrification and denitrification for wastewater in the absence of organic carbon

ABSTRACT Moving bed bioreactors are efficient for the removal of nitrogen effluents by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND), which is particularly challenging for effluents with low C/N ratio due to insufficient carbon available for denitrification. The addition of external organic carbon in such cases increases treatment costs. Endogenous degradation of biomass offers a cost-effective and persistent source of carbon. Internal carbon leads to low denitrification rates and optimizing the biomass content leads to a sustainable solution for treating such effluents. The present study aims to optimize the process of SND using endogenous carbon by investigating the effect of operational parameters like dissolved oxygen, influent ammonium (NH4–N) loading, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and carrier filling ratio (CFR). The synthetic wastewater used in the study does not inherently contain any organic carbon, thus indicating the responsible carbon for denitrification to be of internal origin. Using a novel carrier for multispecies biofilm development, initial NH4–N concentration variation showed an insignificant effect on SND efficiency. At higher loading, nitrite accumulation due to incomplete denitrification was observed. The effect of CFR was investigated in a range of 20–35%, beyond which non-homogeneous mixing was caused in the reactor. Under controlled DO and temperature of about 5 mg/L and 28 ± 2°C, respectively, an optimum filling ratio of 35% was finalised, resulting in an SND efficiency of 97.9% at 22 h HRT for high influent NH4–N concentration of 500 mg/L. Bacteriological species identification revealed the coexistence of nitrogen-fixing, aerobic nitrifying and anaerobic denitrifying bacteria in the biofilm growing on the biocarrier. Mechanism of SND occurring in aerobic moving bed bioreactors: Laboratory-scale aerobic Moving Bed Bioreactor setup for a continuous study evaluating the influence of operational parameters on SND Occurrence of aerobic and anoxic zones in biofilm grown on the surface of novel carriers due to diffusional gradient of dissolved oxygen

Combined use of strictly anaerobic MBBR and aerobic MBR for municipal wastewater treatment and removal of pharmaceuticals

An integrated lab-scale wastewater treatment system consisting of an anaerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (AnMBBR) and an aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AeMBR) in series was used to study the removal and fate of pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment. Continuous-flow experiments were conducted applying different temperatures to the AnMBBR (Phase A: 35 °C; Phase B: 20 °C), while batch experiments were performed for calculating sorption and biotransformation kinetics. The total removal of major pollutants and target pharmaceuticals was not affected by the temperature of the AnMBBR. In Phase A, the average removal of dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and ammonium nitrogen (NH4–N) was 86%, 91% and 96% while in Phase B, 91%, 96% and 96%, respectively. Removal efficiencies ranging between 65% and 100% were observed for metronidazole (MTZ), trimethoprim (TMP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and valsartan (VAL), while slight (<30%) or no removal was observed for carbamazepine (CBZ) and diclofenac (DCF), respectively. Application of a mass balance model showed that the predominant mechanism for the removal of pharmaceuticals was biotransformation, while the role of sorption was of minor importance. The AeMBR was critical for VAL, SMX and TMP biodegradation; the elimination of MTZ was strongly enhanced by the AnMBBR. In both bioreactors, Bacteroidetes was the dominant phylum in both bioreactors over time. In the AnMBBR, Cloacibacterium and Bacteroides had a higher abundance in the biocarriers compared to the suspended biomass.

Influence of Flow-Gas Composition on Reaction Products of Thermally Treated NMC Battery Black Mass

The recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is becoming increasingly important regarding the expansion of electromobility and aspects of raw material supply. Pre-treatment and liberation are crucial for a sufficient recovery of all relevant materials from LIBs. Organic removal and phase transformations by thermal pre-treatment are beneficial in many respects. This study deals with the influence of flow-gas composition on reaction products and water-based lithium recovery after thermal treatment. Therefore, a spent NMC black mass was thermally treated at 610 °C in a moved bed batch reactor under an N2 atmosphere and mixtures of N2 with 2.5% and 5% O2. Since the phase transformation of the lithium content to Li2CO3 is targeted for water leaching, a treatment under a CO2 atmosphere was studied as well. The resulting off-gas was analyzed by FTIR, and the black mass was characterized by XRD. Afterward, water washing of the black mass was carried out for selective lithium recovery. The gained lithium product was analyzed for the purity and phases present. The addition of O2 resulted in reduced reduction reactions of lithium metal oxides and lower Li-yields in the water leaching compared to the other two atmospheres. In the case of CO2, the formation of Li2CO3 is favored compared to LiF, but the Li-yield of 56% is comparable to N2 treatment.

Feasibility of Achieving Efficient Nitrite Accumulation in Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor: The Influencing Factors, Microbial Structures, and Biofilm Characteristics

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is considered as a promising technology for wastewater treatment owing to the high biomass retention and low cost. In this study, the performance of using MBBR for partial denitrification (PD) was investigated. Denitrifying biofilm was successfully formed after 40 days with the biomass and nitrite reduction rate of 40.83 mg VSS/g carriers and 51.52 mg N/(gVSS·h), respectively. Morphology analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the biofilm surface was dominant by cocci, filamentous bacteria, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Investigation about the influencing factors of PD found that the optimal COD/NO3−-N and pH for efficient nitrite production (nitrate to nitrite ratio: 96.49%) was 3 and 9, respectively. Moreover, Saccharimonadales was proved to be dominant functional microbes in the constructed PD systems with different influent conditions because its relative abundance exhibited good correlation with the nitrite accumulation. By analyzing the biofilm characteristics under different conditions, PD was observed to mainly occur in the range of 300–700 μm inside the biofilm, where most of the dissolved oxygen was consumed. This study confirmed the feasibility and superior performance of PD-MBBR system.

Evaluation of Mathematical Models for CO2 Frost Formation in a Cryogenic Moving Bed

Moving bed heat exchangers (MBHE)s are used in industrial applications including waste heat recovery and the drying of solids. As a result, energy balance models have been developed to simulate the heat transfer between a moving bed and the gas phase. Within these energy balance models, phase change of components within the gas phase has not been considered as the liquefaction or desublimation of the gas phase does not occur in typical industrial applications. However, available energy balance models for cryogenic CO2 capture (CCC) have only focused on fixed packed beds. The development of a suitable energy balance model to predict the energy duties for MBHEs that include phase change would be beneficial for CCC applications. This work investigated the development of moving bed energy balance models for the design of moving bed columns that involve phase change of CO2 into frost, using existing models for MBHEs and fixed-bed CCC capture. The models were evaluated by comparison with available moving bed experimental work and simulated data, predicted energy duty requirements and bed flow rates from the suggested moving bed CCC models to maintain thermal equilibrium. The comparisons showed a consistent prediction between the various methods and closely align with the available experimental and simulated data. Comparisons of energy duty and bed flow rate predictions from the developed energy balance models with simulated cases for an oil-fired boiler, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) and biogas upgrading showed energy duty requirements for the gas phase with a proximity of 0.1%, 20.8%, and 3.4%, respectively, and comparisons of gas energy duties from developed energy balance models with energy duties derived from experimental results were compared with a proximity of 1.1%, 1.1% and 0.6% to experimental results for CO2 % v/v concentrations of 18%, 8% and 4%.

Efficient organic carbon utilization for combined nutrient removal and biogas production in hybrid biofilm activated sludge system

Moving bed biofilm technology is a successful and promising biological treatment process considered for cost-effective management of wastewaters. In this study, a hybrid moving bed biofilm pilot plant was operated and obtained results were compared with simulation results of two biological processes: a conventional Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) system and a novel hybrid activated sludge configuration implemented with Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and a reactive primary clarifier (RPC). An efficient organic carbon entrapment (87%) was obtained in reactive primary clarifier where the major component (95%) of the total Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was determined as slowly hydrolysable (XS1), according to respirometric tests. Pilot plant and simulation studies exhibited that an improved nitrogen and phosphorus removal performance, as well as higher biogas production (47%) were obtained by organic carbon redirection in proposed hybrid configurations, securing a 40% less reactor volume. Investigation of the economic aspects indicated that hybrid system has a lower operating cost (i.e., 23% less air requirement, 40% less mixing energy requirement), does not require internal recirculation pumps, and produces more energy through anaerobic digestion compared to conventional BNR. Therefore, proposed novel hybrid configuration is more efficient for the treatment of municipal wastewater in terms of Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditures (OPEX) within the energy self-sufficient treatment plant approach and sustainable treatment plant operation.

Modeling and Experimental Study on Drying Characteristics of Corn Particles with Hot Air in Downward Moving Bed

With regard to drying fresh grain prior to storage, the drying tower with a downward moving bed with hot air is often used, which always has high energy consumption during operation. To optimize the operation, according to the actual operating parameters of a corn drying tower with hot air, a heat balance model was established, and the heat transfer between the hot air and corn flow in a downward moving bed was analyzed. Since the downward moving time is short, the heat absorbed by corn significantly depends on the heat transfer coefficient, mainly the convective heat transfer, between the hot air and corn surface. To determine the convective heat transfer coefficient, a hot air drying experimental system for corn grains was established, and the effects of hot air temperature and wind speed on the central temperature and moisture content of corn grains were analyzed. Utilizing the heat balance model, the convective heat transfer coefficients between corn particles and hot air were calculated. The total convective heat transfer coefficients are in the range of 39.4–53.8 W/m2 · K. With an average value of 46.7 W/m2 · K, drying energy efficiencies in different drying zones in the drying tower were calculated, and the accuracy of the model was verified by the operation data. Due to the high inlet temperature of hot air, the maximum energy efficiency of the first zone is 60.15%, whereas when the temperature of hot air in the second drying tower is 140 °C, the energy efficiency is only 41.97%. Therefore, under the premise of ensuring the drying rate, the temperature of hot air of the second zone should be appropriately reduced to improve the whole drying energy efficiency.

Evaluation of a Hybrid Moving Bed Biofilm Membrane Bioreactor and a Direct Contact Membrane Distillation System for Purification of Industrial Wastewater.

Integrated wastewater treatment processes are accepted as the best option for sustainable and unrestricted onsite water reuse. In this study, moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), membrane bioreactor (MBR), and direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) treatment steps were integrated successively to obtain the combined advantages of these processes for industrial wastewater treatment. The MBBR step acts as the first step in the biological treatment and also mitigates foulant load on the MBR. Similarly, MBR acts as the second step in the biological treatment and serves as a pretreatment prior to the DCMD step. The latter acts as a final treatment to produce high-quality water. A laboratory scale integrated MBBR/MBR/DCMD experimental system was used for assessing the treatment efficiency of primary treated (PTIWW) and secondary treated (STIWW) industrial wastewater in terms of permeate water flux, effluent quality, and membrane fouling. The removal efficiency of total dissolved solids (TDS) and effluent permeate flux of the three-step process (MBBR/MBR/DCMD) were better than the two-step (MBR/DCMD) process. In the three-step process, the average removal efficiency of TDS was 99.85% and 98.16% when treating STIWW and PTIWW, respectively. While in the case of the two-step process, the average removal efficiency of TDS was 93.83% when treating STIWW. Similar trends were observed for effluent permeate flux values which were found, in the case of the three-step process, 62.6% higher than the two-step process, when treating STIWW in both cases. Moreover, the comparison of the quality of the effluents obtained with the analysed configurations with that obtained by Jeddah Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant proved the higher performance of the proposed membrane processes.