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High retention membrane bioreactors: challenges and opportunities
Wenhai Luo1, Faisal I Hai1, William E Price2
1Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Bioresource Technology
|July 6, 2014
Summary
High retention membrane bioreactors (HR-MBR) offer advanced wastewater reclamation by integrating biological treatment with high rejection membranes. This review examines HR-MBR challenges and opportunities for efficient water reuse.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Treatment Technologies
Background:
- Novel high retention membrane bioreactor (HR-MBR) systems are being developed for wastewater reclamation.
- HR-MBR combines high rejection membrane separation with conventional biological treatment.
- Current HR-MBR applications utilize nanofiltration, forward osmosis, and membrane distillation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the challenges and opportunities of HR-MBR for wastewater treatment and water reclamation.
- To guide and inform future research for the commercialization of HR-MBR technology.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on high retention membrane bioreactor systems.
- Analysis of technological challenges including salinity build-up, low permeate flux, and membrane degradation.
- Identification of potential opportunities for HR-MBR advancement.
Main Results:
- HR-MBR systems effectively retain organic contaminants, enhancing biodegradation and producing high-quality effluent.
- Key challenges include salinity build-up, low permeate flux, and membrane degradation.
- Significant opportunities exist for optimizing HR-MBR performance and application.
Conclusions:
- HR-MBR presents a promising solution for wastewater reclamation and high-quality effluent production.
- Addressing technological challenges is crucial for the widespread adoption and commercialization of HR-MBR.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations and maximize the potential of this innovative technology.
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