Membrane bioreactor fouling

Figure 7.17 Experiments showing the rate of fouling of 0.22-p.m microfiltration membranes used to treat dilute biomass solutions. The membranes were operated at the fluxes shown, by increasing transmembrane pressure over time to maintain this flux as the membranes fouled [12]. Reprinted from J. Membr. Sci. 209, B.D. Cho and A.G. Fane, Fouling Transients in Nominally Sub-critical Flux Operation of a Membrane Bioreactor, p. 391, Copyright 2002, with permission from Elsevier...

Kimura, K., Yamato, N., Yamamura, H. and Watanabe, Y. (2005) Membrane fouling in pilot-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs) treating municipal wastewater. Environmental Science e[ Technology, 39, 6293-6299. 

Ji, L. and Zhou, J. (2006) Influence of aeration on microbial polymers and membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors. Journal of Membrane Science, 276, 168-177. 

Germain, E., Stephenson, T., Pearce, R, Biomass characteristics and membrane aeration Toward a better understanding of membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Biotechnology and Bioengineering... 

Ping Chu, H., Li, X.-Y, Membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) Sludge cake formation and fouling characteristics. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2005, 90, 323-331. 

Porous membrane modules were therefore effectively used in bioreactors as an alternative to direct two-liquid contact systems, as long as phase breakthrough was avoided. This required a careful control of the transmembrane pressure, particularly if surface-active material was produced during bioconversions [126,184, 187]. Fouling problems also developed in membrane-assisted multi-phase separation systems. This was observed by Conrad and Lee in the recovery of an aqueous bioconversion product from a broth containing 20% soybean oil by using ceramic membranes fouling was caused mainly by soluble proteins and surfactants [188]. 

Fan, F. S., Zhou, H. D. (2007). Interrelated effects of aeration and mixed liquor fractions on membrane fouling for submerged membrane bioreactor processes in wastewater treatment. Environmental Science Technology, 41(7), 2523-2528. 

Similarly, Oh and colleagues (Oh et al., 2004) report about the application of a membrane unit—outside of the reaction volume— for the production of H2 out of glucose fermentation. Analogous to the previous research, the reactor productivity increases with respect to a plain bioreactor (without the membrane unit) as long as the membrane fouling could be under control (the flux is backpulsed to reduce the membrane fouling). 

Shen, L., Zhou, Y., Mahendran, B., Bagley, D. M., Liss, S. N. (2010). Membrane fouling in a fermentative hydrogen producing membrane bioreactor at different organic loading rates. Journal of Membrane Science, 360, 226—233. 

In the production of bioethanol, sugar is fermented, yielding low concentrated alcohol solutions that are recovered from the broth by ultrafiltration or pervaporation membranes. Ultrafiltration and pervaporation of bioethanol from fermentation broth are IG biofuel processes. As in all bioreactor-coupled membrane processes, membrane fouling and drop in permeate fluxes during continuous operation are the main concerns. 

Zhang, W Park, B. C., Chang, Y. K., Chang, H. N., Yu, X. J., Yuan, Q. (1998). Factors affecting membrane fouling in filtration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in an internal ceramic filter bioreactor. Bioprocess Engineering, 18, 317—322. 

Sui, P., Wen, X., Huang, X. (2008). Feasibility of employing ultrasound for on-line membrane fouling control in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor. Desalination, 219, 203—213. 

Kimura K, Tanaka I, Nishimura S-1, Miyoshi R, Miyoshi T, Watanabe Y. Further examination of polysaccharides causing membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) application of lectin affinity chromatography and MALDl-TOF/MS. Water Res 2012 46 5725-5734. 

Long D. Nghiem (removal of trace contaminants by NF/RO membranes membrane fouling and autopsy studies non-potable and indirect potable water reuse membrane bioreactors membrane extraction membrane electrolysis). School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong (UOW), NSW... 

Meng, E, Chae, S.R., Drews, A., Kraume, M., Shin, H.S. Yang, F. (2009) Recent advances in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) membrane fouling and membrane material. Water Research, 43, 1489-1512. 

The advantages of using hollow fiber membrane reactors include high membrane surface area that allows high cell density, improvement in mass transfer, reduction in product inhibition and increased productivity. However, there are limitations for the use of membrane bioreactors these include low membrane permeability, selectivity and durabihty and membrane fouling. These factors generally make membrane bioreactors more expensive than conventional bioreactors. 

Lin, H., Peng, W., Zhang, M., Che, n.J., Hong, H., Zhang, Y., 2013. A review on anaerobic membrane bioreactors applications, membrane fouling and future perspectives. Desalination 314, 169—188. 

Combining these techniques, they carried out cultivations for 250-350 h, and were able to repeatedly use the same cartridge (four times at least) without measurable deterioration in filtration efficiency. However, when perfusion rate and cell concentration in the bioreactor increased, fouling eventually occurred. Van Reis et al. [92] provided backpressure on the filtrate line to control filtrate rates and so to avoid too high initial filtration rates, which can cause rapid fouling. De la Broise et al. [99] compared the filter performance using membranes of different pore sizes (2 and 10 pm). In both cases partial retention of the produced IgM was observed and membranes had to be changed every 5 days, the... 

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