Why and how membrane bioreactors with unsteady filtration conditions can improve the efficiency of biological processes.

A membrane bioreactor (MBR), an association of a bioreactor with a crossflow filtration unit, enables continuous processes with total cell retention within the reactor to be realized. Provided that high dilution rates can be applied and that inhibition processes are avoided, very high biomass concentrations can be reached, thereby improving the volumetric productivities. These membrane bioreactors have been successfully applied to various microbial bioconversion, such as alcoholic fermentation, solvents, organic acid production, starters, and wastewater treatment.

Feasibility study of a compact process for biological treatment of highly soluble VOCs polluted gaseous effluent.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), representing a wide range of products mainly generated by industrial activity, are involved in air pollution. This study deals with a new biological treatment process of gaseous effluent combining a gas/liquid contactor called an "aero-ejector" and a membrane bioreactor. Combining these two innovative technologies enables a high elimination efficiency to be reached.