Environmental Applications of Membrane Bioreactors

Domestic and municipal grey, industrial -paper, cosmetics, chemicals, food and automobile 

The treatment of fermentation wastewater was studied by Lu et al [4.113]. The authors used a rotary disk UF module coupled with an aerated bioreactor. The treated sludge was highly concentrated, and high organic carbon removal was obtained nitrification of ammonia nitrogen was also successfully achieved. This reactor was able to work continuously during 130 days without noticeable loss of performance. 

The Lyonnaise des Eaux in France [4.116] has developed a process for the denitrification of underground waters in order to produce drinking water. This process combines a bioreactor with adsorption by powdered activated carbon, together with a hollow-fiber UF unit. This process allows the elimination of nitrates, nitrites, pesticides, and herbicides (atrazine, diethylatrazine, simazine, metabenzthiazuron, and urea derivatives, etc.) as well as taste and odor compounds. These molecules are frequently present in underground waters in Europe, as a result of past intensive agricultural practices. The UF membrane unit also disinfects the water by removing protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. 

Enzymatic MBR have also been used for the removal of various pollutants from wastewaters, a key class being phenolic compounds, whose toxicity, hazardous nature, and increasing presence in wastewaters are becoming well documented [4.123]. Bodzek et al [4.124] have studied the phenol and cyanide enzymatic removal from coke industry wastewaters. For this purpose, they immobilized an enzymatic fraction, isolated from a bacterial strain of Pseudomonas, on ultrafiltration membranes. The results obtained showed that, in spite of long contact times (up to 4 h), only modest biodegradation rates of 

When the wastewater streams contain significant quantities of inorganics, it is difficult to treat them with MBR. In fact, when the salt and acid content is sufficiently high the 

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Bolzonella, D., Fatone, F., Di Fabio, S. Cecchi, F. (2010) Application of membrane bioreactor technology for wastewater treatment and reuse in the Mediterranean region focusing on removal efficiency of non-conventional pollutants. Journal of Environmental Management, 91,2424-2431. 

An analysis of membrane bioreactors has been carried out in this chapter with the aim of presenting an overview of this very relevant field of biocatalysis applications. Membrane bioreactors are in continuous development. Many studies related to new configurations or more effectiveness membranes are currently being undertaken. Membrane bioreactors can be applied in a variety of fields, including food science, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, energy and environmental fields. 

C. B. Ersu and S. K. Ong, Operating Characteristics and Treatment Performance of a Membrane Bioreactor Using Tubular Ceramic Membrane, IWA Environmental Biotechnology Advancement on Water and Wastewater Applications in the Tropics, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 9-10, 2003. 

Almeida, J. S., Reis, M. M. and Crespo, J. G. 1999. Development of extractive membrane bioreactors for environmental applications. Environment Protection Engineering, 25,111-121. 

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