Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
08:13

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

Published on: December 25, 2015

[Membrane fouling alleviation characteristics of sludge/water pre-separation MBR]

Hong-Jie Wang1, Wen-Yi Dong, Wei Bai

  • 1School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China. whj1533@yahoo.com.cn

Huan Jing Ke Xue= Huanjing Kexue
|September 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A novel sludge/water pre-separation membrane bioreactor (S/W-MBR) significantly alleviates membrane fouling. This innovative system reduces cleaning frequency compared to traditional submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBRs).

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Treatment Technologies
  • Bioreactor Systems

Context:

  • Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are crucial for wastewater treatment but suffer from membrane fouling.
  • Traditional submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBRs) require frequent cleaning, increasing operational costs.
  • Sludge/water pre-separation is explored as a strategy to mitigate fouling in MBR systems.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a sludge/water pre-separation membrane bioreactor (S/W-MBR) in alleviating membrane fouling.
  • To compare the performance of S/W-MBR with a conventional submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) over a long-term operation.
  • To analyze the variations in trans-membrane pressure (TMP), sludge concentration, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in both systems.

Summary:

  • The S/W-MBR demonstrated significantly reduced sludge concentration in the membrane area compared to SMBR.
  • Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) levels were lower and stable in the S/W-MBR membrane area.
  • S/W-MBR required only 2 cleanings over 90 days, compared to 5 cleanings for SMBR, indicating superior fouling alleviation.

Impact:

  • The S/W-MBR technology offers a promising solution for reducing membrane fouling and operational burdens in wastewater treatment.
  • This approach can lead to more sustainable and cost-effective MBR operations.
  • Findings provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of next-generation MBR systems.

More Related Videos

Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids from Fermentation Broth Using Hollow-Fiber Membranes06:45

Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids from Fermentation Broth Using Hollow-Fiber Membranes

Published on: August 9, 2024

Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification07:32

Synthesis of Hydrogels with Antifouling Properties As Membranes for Water Purification

Published on: April 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water01:30

Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water

Biological wastewater treatment relies on the metabolic activity of microorganisms to remove pollutants from sewage. In modern treatment systems, this process is organized into sequential stages that progressively reduce solid material, dissolved organic matter, and microbial contamination. Each stage plays a distinct role in improving water quality and preparing the effluent for safe discharge or reuse.Primary and Secondary TreatmentPrimary treatment is a physical process that removes large...
Microbial Wastewater Treatment01:30

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Microbial Fuel Cells01:23

Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical devices that generate electricity by exploiting the metabolic processes of electrogenic bacteria. These systems provide a renewable energy source and serve as an innovative method for treating organic waste, such as wastewater.A typical MFC consists of two chambers: an anoxic (oxygen-free) compartment that houses the bacteria and an oxic (oxygen-rich) compartment that contains oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Many MFCs use proton...
Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins01:18

Detergent Purification of Membrane Proteins

Detergents are used to purify the integral proteins of the membrane. The hydrophobic portion of the detergent can replace membrane phospholipids while solubilizing the membrane proteins. When detergent monomers reach a specific concentration in a solution called critical micelle concentration (CMC), they form micelles. Above CMC, the concentration of the detergent monomers remains in equilibrium with the micelle. The number of detergent monomers present in the CMC varies for each detergent, and...