Fouling with aerobic granule membrane bioreactor.

Aerobic granulation (AG) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) are two promising, novel environmental biotechnological processes that draw interest of researchers working in the area of biological wastewater treatment. Membrane fouling in the combined aerobic granular membrane bioreactor (AGMBR) process and the conventional MBR process was investigated in this work. The irreversible fouling on hollow-fibre membranes in both reactors were observed with the multiple staining and confocal laser scanning microscope technique.

Stable aerobic granules for continuous-flow reactors: Precipitating calcium and iron salts in granular interiors.

Aerobic sludge granules are compact, strong microbial aggregates that have excellent settling ability and capability to efficiently treat high-strength and toxic wastewaters. The aerobic granules cultivated with low ammonium and phosphates lost structural stability within 3 days in continuous-flow reactors. Conversely, stable aerobic granules were cultivated in substrate with high levels of ammonium salts that could stably exist for 216 days in continuous-flow reactors with or without submerged membrane.

Harvesting of Scenedesmus obliquus FSP-3 using dispersed ozone flotation.

The Scenedesmus obliquus FSP-3, a species with excellent potential for CO(2) capture and lipid production, was harvested using dispersed ozone flotation. While air aeration does not, ozone produces effective solid-liquid separation through flotation. Ozone dose applied for sufficient algal flotation is similar to those used in practical drinking waterworks.

Strains of internal biofilm in aerobic granular membrane bioreactors.

This study isolated strains in suspended liquor, the surface fouling layer, and biofilm inside hollow-fiber membranes of a membrane bioreactor (MBR); analyzed their distributions, sizes, surface charges, and growth behaviors; and determined the quantities of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by these strains under different organic loadings. Three strains, which may penetrate the microfiltration membranes, were close relatives of the Ralstonia mannitolilytica strain SDV (GenBank Accession No. GU451066), Arthrobacter sp.

Influence of internal biofilm growth on residual permeability loss in aerobic granular membrane bioreactors.

Membrane fouling results in flux decline or transmembrane pressure drop increase during membrane bioreactor (MBR) operation. Physical and chemical cleanings are essential to keep an MBR operating at an appropriate membrane flux. Considerable residual membrane permeability loss that cannot be removed by conventional cleaning requires membrane replacement.

Biodiversity in aerobic granule membrane bioreactor at high organic loading rates.

The aerobic granular sludge process and the membrane bioreactor process are promising, novel environmental bioprocesses for the reclamation of industrial and municipal wastewaters. They are practical and have attracted much research interest. The combination of these two processes in the aerobic granular membrane bioreactor (AGMBR), yields reclaimed water of high quality in a compact reactor.

Enhanced aerobic granulation with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)-free pellets.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) were secreted by cells after they agglomerated into a compact aggregate. This study shows that the EPS initially embedded in seed sludge before granulation may sterically slow subsequent microbe-microbe contact, thereby delaying aerobic granulation. Three identical bioreactors were used in this study using glucose as the sole carbon and energy source.