• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2014

Quorum quenching (QQ) with a microbial vessel has recently been reported as an economically feasible biofouling control platform in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. In this study, a quorum quenching MBR with a ceramic microbial vessel (CMV) was designed to overcome the extremely low F/M ratio inside a microbial vessel. The CMV was prepared with a monolithic ceramic microporous membrane and AHL-degrading QQ bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. 1A1. The "inner flow feeding mode" was introduced, under which fresh feed was supplied to the MBR only through the center lumen in the CMV. The inner flow feeding mode facilitated nutrient transport to QQ bacteria in the CMV and thus enabled relatively long-term maintenance of cell viability. The quorum quenching effect of the CMV on controlling membrane biofouling in the MBR was more pronounced with the inner flow feeding mode, which was identified by the slower increase in the transmembrane pressure as well as by the visual observation of a biocake that formed on the used membrane surface. In the QQ MBR with the CMV, the concentrations of extracellular polymeric substances were substantially decreased in the biocake on the membrane surface compared with those in the conventional MBR. The CMV also showed its potential with effective biofouling control over long-term operation of the QQ MBR.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 2016

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology has previously been used by water industry to treat high salinity wastewater. In this study, an anoxic-oxic biofilm-membrane bioreactor (AOB-MBR) system has been developed to treat mustard tuber wastewater of 10% salinity (calculated as NaCl). To figure out the effects of operating conditions of the AOB-MBR on membrane fouling rate ($K_V$), response surface methodology was used to evaluate the interaction effect of the three key operational parameters, namely time interval for pump (t), aeration intensity ($U_{Gr}$) and transmembrane pressure (TMP). The optimal condition for lowest membrane fouling rate ($K_V$) was obtained: time interval was 4.0 min, aeration intensity was $14.6 m^3/(m^2{\cdot}h)$ and transmembrane pressure was 19.0 kPa. And under this condition, the treatment efficiency with different influent loads, i.e. 1.0, 1.9 and $3.3kgCODm^{-3}d^{-1}$ was researched. When the reactor influent load was less than $1.9kgCODm^{-3}d^{-1}$, the effluent could meet the third discharge standard of "Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard". This study suggests that the model fitted by response surface methodology can predict accurately membrane fouling rate within the specified design space. And it is feasible to apply the AOB-MBR in the pickled mustard tuber factory, achieving satisfying effluent quality.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.386-393
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the nutrient removal and biomass productivity in the wastewater using MMBR (Microalgae Membrane Bioreactor). MMBR process was combined OPPBR (Optical Panel Photobioreactor) and MBR (Membrane bioreactor). The OPPBR and MBR were operated 3 days and 9h HRT (Hydraulic retention time), respectively, using microalgae as Chlorella vulgaris. The obtained result indicated that the biomass productivity of 0.498 g/L/d with light transmittance of 92% at a 305 mm depth in the OPPBR was achieved. The total consumption of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) in the MMBR were found to be 97.56% and 96.06%, respectively. Additionally, the removal of TN, $NO_3-N$, TP and $PO_4-P$ were 94.94%, 91.04%, 99.54% and 93.06% in MMBR, respectively. These results indicated that the MMBR process was highly effective for COD, BOD and nutrient removal when compared to the separate OPPBR or MBR process. The MMBR process was effective for nutrient removal and biomass productivity and can be applied to treat wastewater in sewage treatment plant.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.543-558
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• 2019

In comparison to alternative advanced wastewater treatment technologies, the main problem associated with membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology, which has become prominent in recent years, is biofouling. Within these systems, biofouling is typically the result of a biofilm layer resulting from bacterial gathering. One biological system that can be employed to interrupt the process of bacterial gathering is called 'Quorum Quenching (QQ)'. Existing QQ applications can be classified using three main types: 1) bacterial/whole-cell applications, 2) direct enzyme applications, and 3) natural sourced compounds. The most common and widely recognized applications for membrane fouling control during MBR operation are bacterial and direct enzyme applications. The purpose of this review was to identify and assess biofilm formation mechanism and results, the suggestion of the QQ concept and its potential to control biofilm formation, and the means by which these QQ applications can be applied within the MBR and present QQ MBR studies.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2012

The overall performance of BNR-MBR, so-called Anoxic-Anaerobic-Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor ($A^3$-MBR), developed for nutrient removal was studied to determine the efficiencies and mechanisms under different solid retention time (SRT). The reactor was fed by synthetic high-rise building wastewater with a COD:N:P ratio of 100:10:2.5. The results showed that TKN, TN and phosphorus removal by the system was higher than 95%, 93% and 80%, respectively. Nitrogen removal in the system was related to the simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) reaction which removed all nitrogen forms in aerobic condition. SND reaction in the system occurred because of the large floc size formation. Phosphorus removal in the system related to the high phosphorus content in bacterial cells and the little effects of nitrate nitrogen on phosphorus release in the anaerobic condition. Therefore, high quality of treated effluent could be achieved with the $A^3$-MBR system for various water reuse purposes.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.543-551
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• 2017

Membrane fouling in membrane bioreactor (MBR) remains a primary challenge for its wider application. The focus of this study to investigate the influence of iron distribution in activated sludge on gel layer fouling in MBR. Significant reduction in the transmembrane pressure (TMP) rise rates was observed in the presence of iron as result of retarding the gel layer formation time. The spatial distribution of iron had a significant impact on the stratification structure of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) fractions, such as proteins (PN) and polysaccharides (PS). A mitigation of PN or PS from the supernatant to the EPS inner layers was observed in the presence of iron. Compared with the control reactor, the reduction in PN and PS of the supernatant and lower PN/PS rates of the LB-EPS were beneficial to decrease the membrane fouling potential during the gel layer formation. Consequently, the iron addition managed to control gel layer fouling could be a useful strategy in MBR.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.619-627
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• 2004

Purposes of this study were to examine closely the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) which was a membrane fouling contaminant, to control detected EPS by powdered activated carbon (PAC) dosage etc. and to evaluate the possibility of practical reuse facility. With high removal efficiency of general pollutants, when the PAC is added to MBR, improvement of removal efficiency of $COD_{cr}$, and color was expected and treated wastewater can be reused. It was judged that the correlation between EPS and membrane fouling was very high. Carbohydrate and DNA in the EPS were judged to be cause of membrane fouling. If EPS could be controled, not only membrane fouling would be decreased but also operation time would be extended. In experiment of powdered activated carbon (PAC), characteristics of the best PAC for membrane fouling control were the particle size of $7{\mu}m$, lodine Number of 1,050, surface area of peat of $1,150m^2/g$. In lab test, operation time of MBR by PAC dosage of 200mg/gVSS was longer than one of MBR by without PAC dosage. Because EPS, especially carbohydrate and DNA, was controled successfully by PAC, membrane fouling in MBR could be decreased.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.331-338
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the membrane fouling and sludge characteristics in a pilot-scale submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) operated under low temperature ($7^{\circ}C$). To elucidate the mechanisms of membrane fouling at low temperature, we studied the correlation between MBR performances and physicochemical properties of sludge including extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), relative hydrophobicity (RH) and floc size during long-term operation. The MBR was shown able to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) stably and efficiently (>90 %) in the case of overgrowth of filamentous bacteria (bulking sludge) at low temperature. On the other hand, the occurrence of filamentous bulking greatly accelerated membrane fouling, as indicated by membrane filtration period of 14 days for filamentous bulking at $7^{\circ}C$, in comparison with that of 27 days for non-bulking sludge at $24^{\circ}C$ The overgrowth of filamentous bacteria resulting from low-temperature condition led to an increased release of EPS, higher RH, smaller floc size and lower fractal dimension of sludge. These factors accelerated the formation of compact cake layer on membrane surface in association with performance diminution in terms of increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) of the membrane and thus the decrease in membrane permeability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

In membrane bioreactor (MBR), activated sludge degrade the biological component and membrane process separate this bacterial flocks as well the suspended solids. However, membrane fouling is one of the major issues in MBR. In this review, composite membrane used in MBR to overcome fouling is discussed. It is classified into membrane containing carbon and noncarbon materials. Introducing graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes or their modified part into pristine membrane enhance hydrophilicity of the composite membrane. Inorganic materials like silicon dioxide (SiO₂) or titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are also incorporated for preparing composite membrane to increase its water flux.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.197-205
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• 2014

For the first time in Bangladesh, a bench scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) unit was tested in treating a textile wastewater in the industry premises of EOS Textile Mills LTD, Dhaka for three months. The performance of the unit was compared with that of the conventional activated sludge treatment plant, which is in operation in the same premises. The COD and BOD removal efficiency of the MBR unit reached to around 90% and 80% respectively in 20 days whereas the removal efficiency of the conventional treatment plant was as low as 40-50% and 38-40% respectively. The outlet COD and the BOD level for the MBR unit remained stable in spite of the fluctuation in the feed value, while the conventional effluent treatment plant (ETP) failed to keep any stabilized level. The performance of the MBR unit was much superior to that of the functional ETP and the water treated by the MBR system can meet disposal standard.