Fouling Behavior in a High-Rate Anaerobic Submerged Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) for Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Treatment.

The characteristics of foulant in the cake layer and bulk suspended solids of a 10 L submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) used for treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) were investigated in this study. Three different organic loading rates (OLRs) were applied with prolonged sludge retention time throughout a long operation time (270 days). The organic foulant was characterized by biomass concentration and concentration of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).