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Updated: May 20, 2026
08:13
A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Recent developments in anaerobic membrane reactors
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BY, UK. d.stuckey@ic.ac.uk
Bioresource Technology
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) show high COD removal and enable nutrient recycling. Further research is needed to optimize fouling control and integrate nitrogen removal for enhanced wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Wastewater Treatment
Background:
- Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) are advanced systems derived from aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs).
- They offer high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (~98%) at short hydraulic retention times (HRTs) as low as 3 hours.
- Membrane integration prevents biomass washout, improving performance with inhibitory substrates and diverse temperatures, and enabling nitrogen removal via Anammox.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the capabilities and limitations of Anaerobic Membrane Reactors (AnMBRs).
- To identify key areas requiring further research for AnMBR technology advancement.
- To highlight the potential of AnMBRs for efficient wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on AnMBRs.
- Analysis of performance data regarding COD removal, HRT, and biomass retention.
- Evaluation of fouling mechanisms and mitigation strategies, including the use of additives.
- Exploration of nitrogen removal integration and energy/mass balance considerations.
Main Results:
- AnMBRs achieve high COD removal (~98%) and can operate at very low HRTs (3 h).
- Membrane technology enhances stability with challenging substrates and temperatures, and allows for Anammox integration.
- Additives like activated carbon can mitigate membrane fouling by removing soluble microbial products (SMPs) and colloids, improving flux.
- AnMBRs offer low energy use, reduced solids production, and solids-free effluent, promoting water and nutrient recycling.
Conclusions:
- AnMBRs present a promising technology for efficient wastewater treatment with resource recovery potential.
- Further research is crucial to address challenges in fouling comparison, operational influence on fouling, additive efficacy, nitrogen removal integration, methane recovery, and mass/energy balances.
- Optimizing AnMBR design and operation can lead to significant improvements in wastewater management and water reuse.
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