This study was performed to compare the performance of aerated filtration module (AerFM) and vibrated filtration module (VibFM) to up-concentrate fresh sewage using a flat-sheet membrane in a submerged configuration. The filtration performance was assessed by conducting the improved flux step method (IFM), batch up-concentration filtrations and verifying the recovery of the chemical oxygen demand (COD). Overall results suggest that VibFM is more effective than AerFM judging from the critical flux (JC), the critical flux for irreversibility (JCir) and the TMP profile during batch up-concentration tests. In addition, The VibFM is also a more energy efficient system. The energy consumption was estimated to vary from 0.57 to 0.60 kWh/m3 and 0.14 to 0.17 kWh/m3 for AerFM and VibFM, respectively. No significant difference was found for the filterability of sewage with different up-concentration levels. An over-exposure of feed in the filtration tank leads to solubilisation of particulate COD thus reducing the harvesting efficiency. Further study on long-term and continuous sewage up-concentration is still necessary.
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