Filtration characterization method as tool to assess membrane bioreactor sludge filterability-the delft experience.

Prevention and removal of fouling is often the most energy intensive process in Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), responsible for 40% to 50% of the total specific energy consumed in submerged MBRs. In the past decade, methods were developed to quantify and qualify fouling, aiming to support optimization in MBR operation. Therefore, there is a need for an evaluation of the lessons learned and how to proceed.

Review on the state of science on membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment.

Over the past two decades the field of application for membrane bioreactors has broadened towards the municipal wastewater treatment sector. The Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) determined MBR technology to be of priority for collaborative research and decided to conduct a project with the aim to determine the current state of the science in the field of MBR for municipal wastewater treatment and to develop a phased research strategy represented by priority research projects, like a State of the Science report with regard to MBR technology. This paper describes the state of the science with regard to MBR technology for municipal wastewater treatment by 2007, derived by literature review on recent publications, database analysis and international questionnaires.

Occurrence of EPS in activated sludge from a membrane bioreactor treating municipal wastewater.

EPS are supposed to be among the causes of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBR). In this work they are measured as total proteins and total polysaccharides. Theoretical and empirical considerations of biomass membrane filtration lead to the conclusion that EPS in the water phase is decisive for the filterability of activated sludge.