Technical Challenges for Membrane Bioreactors

Though MBR offer advantages over the more conventional bioreactors, they, themselves, are not completely free of problems. One such key problem, as previously noted, relates to changes in biocatalyst activity. This is a serious concern for whole-cell MBR, when the cells are immobilized in the membrane s pore structure. Diffusional limitations for nutri- 

In contrast to whole-cell MBR, enzymatic MBR seem to have fewer problems of fouling and mass transfer limitations. In fact, if the enzymes have a good stability, the system is free of adsorption or decomposition products. Also, mass transport limitations are generally not a significant concern. For example, a recent study by Ujang and Hazri [4.88] in- 

---