Experimental investigation of the performance of anaerobic membrane bioreactor with electrolytic regeneration (AMBER) for challenges and options in wastewater treatment

Significant changes in wastewater services are necessary for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), by utilizing resource recovery, recycle, and reuse in urban wastewater-treatment plants. Based on recent experiences, to improve the filtration behavior of a membrane bioreactor, a hybrid...

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Published in:The Science of the total environment 2022-10, Vol.844, p.157080-157080, Article 157080
Main Authors: Amouamouha, Maryam, Gholikandi, Gagik Badalians, Walker, Travis W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anaerobic baffled reactor
Anaerobic membrane bioreactor efficiency
Bioenergy
Electrolytic regeneration
Fouling mitigation
Wastewater treatment
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Summary:Significant changes in wastewater services are necessary for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), by utilizing resource recovery, recycle, and reuse in urban wastewater-treatment plants. Based on recent experiences, to improve the filtration behavior of a membrane bioreactor, a hybrid system including an upgraded anaerobic baffled reactor coupled with an electrolysis process and a nanocomposite-membrane was developed. The system, called an anaerobic membrane bioreactor with electrolytic regeneration (AMBER), is a bio-electrochemical process that is expected to be simultaneously efficient in both biogas augmentation and fouling mitigation. The goals were to enhance the stability and efficiency of the anaerobic membrane bioreactor. The integration of the electrolytic process with the ABR (EABR) using a pair of iron electrodes enhanced the removal of contaminants in the ABR while successfully maintained pH in the optimum range for anaerobic digestion (6.8 to 7.2). Then, the performance of AMBER in pollutant removal, including organic load, suspended solids, and microbial load, were investigated over 240 days. The results showed that configuration considerably enhanced permeate flux, as it reduced the deposition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the surface of the nanocomposite membrane, leading to a reduction in membrane fouling. EPS was extracted and quantified to compare the effect of biogas backwash on the function of the membrane reactor. After 7 d of operation with a daily biogas backwash, the flux reduction was approximately 13 % for the conventional combination of the anaerobic baffled reactor and the membrane bioreactor (AMBR), while it was limited to 4 % in AMBER. After cleaning by the biogas, EPS formation decreased 63 % in AMBER when compared to the AMBR. The results revealed that AMBER can be considered an environmentally competitive bioenergy technology for wastewater treatment with the purpose of water recovery and reuse, employing optimized operational conditions, application of antifouling membranes, and electrically-based strategies. [Display omitted] •Fouling indicators (e.g., backwash recovery of permeate flux, EPS production) revealed that AMBER is a promising technology.•The modified anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) functioned as the biodegradation unit of the membrane bioreactor.•EPS formation on the membrane surface was decreased by 63% after integration of electrolysis.•Membrane permeability improved 8.6% in
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157080