Novel application of high-density polyethylene mesh as self-forming dynamic membrane integrated into a bioreactor for wastewater treatment

Living membrane bioreactor for highly effective and eco-friendly treatment of textile wastewater

The treatability of synthetic textile wastewater containing model dyes, such as reactive black and direct black dye (25.0 ± 2.6 mg_dye/L), with chemical oxygen demand (COD, 1000 ± 113 mg/L), ammonia‑nitrogen (NH₃-N, 140 ± 97 mg/L) and sulphate ions (SO₄^2-, 1357 ± 10.86 mg/L) was investigated in this study using an innovative living membrane bioreactor (LMBR) using an encapsulated self-forming dynamic membrane (ESFDM). The key advantage of ESFDMBR is the self-forming of the biological filtering layer protected between two meshes of inert robust and inexpensive material. A laboratory scale bioreactor (BR) equipped with a filtering unit mounting polyester meshes with a pore size of 30 μm, operated at an influent flux of 30 LMH was thus used. After the formation of the biological living membrane (LM), the treatment significantly reduced COD and DOC concentrations to the average values of 34 ± 10 mg/L and 32 ± 7 mg/L, corresponding to reduction efficiencies of 96.0 ± 1.1 % and 94 ± 1.05 %, respectively. Throughout the LMBR operation, the colours were successfully removed from synthetic textile wastewater with an overall removal efficiency of about 85.0 ± 1.8 and 86.0 ± 1.9 % for direct and reactive dyes, respectively. In addition, the proposed system was also found effective in affording removal efficiency of ammonia (NH₃) of 97 ± 0.5 %. Finally, this treatment afforded circa 40.7 ± 5.8 % sulphate removal, with a final concentration value of 805 ± 78.61 mg/L. The innovative living membrane, based on an encapsulated self-forming dynamic membrane allows a prolonged containment of the membrane fouling, confirmed by investigating the concentration of membrane fouling precursors and the time-course variations of turbidity and transmembrane pressure (TMP). Those final concentrations of wastewater pollutants were found to be below the limits for admission of the effluents in public sanitation networks in Italy and Tunisia, as representative countries for the regulation in force in Europe and North Africa. In conclusion, due to the low costs of plant and maintenance, the simple applicability, the rapid online implementation, the application of LMBR results in a promising method for the treatment of textile wastewater.

Enhanced membrane fouling control through self-forming dynamic membrane and sponge-wrapped membrane: A novel membrane bioreactor

Membrane technology offers a wide variety of advantages in wastewater treatment, but fouling impedes its widespread applications. Hence, in this study, a novel method was tried to control membrane fouling by combining the self-forming dynamic membrane (SFDM) with a sponge-wrapped membrane bioreactor. The configuration is termed a "Novel-membrane bioreactor" (Novel-MBR). To compare the performance of Novel-MBR, a conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) was operated under similar operating conditions. CMBR and Novel-MBR were run consequently for 60 and 150 days, respectively. The Novel-MBR was composed of SFDMs in two compartments before a sponge-wrapped membrane in the membrane compartment. In Novel-MBR, the formation times for SFDMs on coarse (125 μm) and fine (37 μm) pore cloth filers were 43 and 13 min, respectively. The CMBR experienced more frequent fouling; the maximum fouling rate was 5.83 kPa/day. In CMBR, the membrane fouling due to cake layer resistance (6.92 × 10¹²  m^-1 ) was high, and that alone contributed to 84% of fouling. In Novel-MBR, the fouling rate was 0.0266 kPa/day, and the cake layer resistance was 0.329 × 10¹²  m^-1 . Also, the Novel-MBR experienced 21 times less reversible fouling and 36 times less irreversible fouling resistance than the CMBR. In Novel-MBR, the formed SFDM and the sponge wrapped on the membrane helped to reduce both reversible and irreversible fouling. With the modification tried in the present study, the Novel-MBR experienced less fouling, and the maximum transmembrane pressure at the end of 150 days of operation was 4 kPa. PRACTITIONER POINTS: CMBR experienced frequent fouling, and the maximum fouling rate was 5.83 kPa/day. Cake layer resistance was dominant in CMBR and contributed to 84% of fouling. The fouling rate of Novel-MBR at the end of the operation was 0.0266 kPa/day. Novel-MBR is expected to perform for ≈3380 days to reach the maximum TMP of 35 kPa.

Preparation and characterization of nano-filtration and its photocatalytic abilities via pre-coated and self-forming dynamic membranes developed by ZnO, PAC and chitosan

In the current work, novel dynamic membranes (DM) were tested and introduced for cheese whey wastewater treatment based on resistant and inexpensive materials, polyesters, and chitosan. For the investigation of dynamic membrane (pre-coated and self-forming) characterizations, polyester as a low-cost and natural material with chitosan were chosen to provide the support of the target membrane. The inherent antifouling character of chitosan accompanied by its high hydrophilicity have made this polymer known as an attractive agent for membrane-based wastewater treatment operations. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) were employed as the dynamic layer. Neat polyester had a chemical oxygen demand (COD) rejection ratio of about 57.61%, but the flux declined sharply. The higher removal efficiency was for the self-forming type: total phosphate (94%) and citrate (95.5%). Fouled dynamic membranes were backwashed by sodium dodecyl-sulphate (SDS), warm water, and distilled water. Results demonstrated that the pre-coated was reduced and fouling increased the flux recovery rate (FRR) (9.1%) while use of the self-forming DM exhibited an aggravation of fouling by decreasing of support FRR (11.1%). It was found that by substitution of deionized water and hot water with SDS, FRR was enhanced. In the following, the photocatalytic ability of the product was investigated. The UV light source increased the removal ratio and FRR. For example, self-forming COD rejection was enhanced (6.63%).

Dynamic membrane for micro-particle removal in wastewater treatment: Performance and influencing factors

Dynamic membranes (DMs) have been of great interest in recent years because they can reduce energy consumption and costs during wastewater treatment. Dynamic membranes are a promising technology for the removal of low-density, non-degradable micro-particles, such as plastics, which are an increasingly prevalent wastewater contaminant. These micro-particles are not easily removed via conventional sedimentation and result in increased operation and maintenance costs in downstream unit processes. In this study, DMs were formed on a 90 μm supporting mesh through filtration of a synthetic wastewater. The impact of influent flux (solid flux) and influent particle concentration on DM performance was investigated. The effluent turbidity was reduced to <1 NTU after 20 mins of filtration, verifying the effective removal of micro-particles by the DM. Transmembrane pressure (TMP) and total filtration resistance increased linearly with filtration time, and were highly correlated (R² > 0.998). TMP ranged from 80 to 180 mm of water head, and total filtration resistance ranged from 2.89 × 10^-9 m^-1 to 6.52 × 10^-9 m^-1 during DM filtration. In general, an increase in influent flux and influent particle concentration corresponds with increasing TMP and filtration resistance, as well as a rapid reduction in effluent turbidity due to swift formation of a DM on the supporting mesh.