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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Continuously-stirred Anaerobic Digester to Convert Organic Wastes into Biogas: System Setup and Basic Operation
Published on: July 13, 2012
Comparison of activated sludge and virus interactions in aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactors
Jinfan Zhang1, Jie Zhang1, Daisuke Sano2,3
1Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are effective sewage treatment technologies, yet the differences in virus removal efficiency between aerobic (AeMBR) and anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR), remain inadequately understood. This study compared the virus removal efficiency of AeMBR and AnMBR, focusing on the interactions between aerobic (AeS) and anaerobic (AnS) activated sludge and viruses in the sewage treatment process. Results showed average log removal values (LRVs) for MS2 of 2.53 ± 0.54 in AeMBR and 1.64 ± 0.90 in AnMBR due to the higher virus inactivation in the aerobic mixed liquor. The virus concentration in AnS was greater than in AeS, consistent with the predictions from the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Soluble extracellular polymeric substances (S-EPS) were key to virus adsorption in AeS, while tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) were significant in AnS. Additionally, more fluorescent substances in AnS contributed to virus adsorption, while more functional groups in AeS offered adsorption sites.
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