Performance and fouling characteristics of different pore-sized submerged ceramic membrane bioreactors (SCMBR)

摘要

The membrane bioreactor (MBR), a combination of activated sludge process and the membranenseparation system, has been widely used in wastewater treatment. However, 90% of MBRnreported were employing polymeric membranes. The usage of ceramic membranes in MBR isnquite rare. Four submerged ceramic membrane bioreactors (SCMBRs) with different membranenpore size were used in this study to treat sewage. The results showed that the desirablencarbonaceous removal of 95% and ammonia nitrogen removal of 98% were obtained for all thenSCMBRs. It was also showed that the ceramic membranes were able to reject some portions ofnthe protein and carbohydrate, whereby the carbohydrate rejection rate was much higher thannthat of protein. Membrane pore size did not significantly affect the COD and TOC removalnefficiencies, the composition of EPS and SMP or the membrane rejection rate, although slightndifferences were observed. The SCMBR with the biggest membrane pore size fouled fastest, andnmembrane pore size was a main contributor for the different fouling potential observed.