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Updated Protocol for the Assembly and Use of the Minibioreactor Array (MBRA)
Published on: September 5, 2025
Membrane coagulation bioreactor (MCBR) for drinking water treatment
Jia-Yu Tian1, Heng Liang, Xing Li
1School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China. tjy800112@163.com
Water Research
|August 5, 2008
Summary
A novel submerged membrane coagulation bioreactor (MCBR) effectively treats drinking water, significantly improving organic matter removal and reducing membrane fouling compared to traditional membrane bioreactors (MBR). This advanced process enhances water quality and operational efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional membrane bioreactors (MBR) face challenges in complete organic matter removal and membrane fouling.
- Optimizing drinking water treatment processes is crucial for public health and environmental protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel submerged ultrafiltration (UF) membrane coagulation bioreactor (MCBR) for drinking water treatment.
- To compare the performance of MCBR with MBR in terms of organic matter removal and membrane fouling.
Main Methods:
- A submerged ultrafiltration (UF) membrane coagulation bioreactor (MCBR) was operated at a short hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 0.5h.
- Performance was assessed by measuring removal efficiencies of various organic matter parameters (TOC, COD(Mn), DOC, UV(254)), nitrification, phosphate, and disinfection byproducts precursors (THMFP, HAAFP).
- Trans-membrane pressure (TMP) was monitored to evaluate membrane fouling mitigation.
Main Results:
- MCBR demonstrated high removal efficiencies for particulates, microorganisms, and nearly complete nitrification and phosphate removal.
- MCBR significantly outperformed MBR in removing total organic carbon (TOC), permanganate index (COD(Mn)), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and UV absorbance (UV(254)).
- MCBR showed reduced trihalomethanes formation potential (THMFP) and haloacetic acids formation potential (HAAFP) and experienced significantly lower trans-membrane pressure (TMP), indicating mitigated membrane fouling.
Conclusions:
- The MCBR process is highly effective for drinking water treatment, offering superior organic matter removal and reduced membrane fouling.
- Organic matter removal in MCBR is a synergistic effect of ultrafiltration (UF) rejection, biodegradation, and polyaluminium chloride (PACl) coagulation.
- The fouling layer formed on the membrane surface acts as a secondary membrane, further enhancing organic matter separation.
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