Abstract
In the midst of increasing global production of domestic wastewater over the years, the treatment capacities did not show promising increments to keep up with it. Traditionally, biological treatment systems such as wetlands, conventional activated sludge (CAS), trickling filter processes, and rotating biological reactors were used to treat these wastewaters. The capital and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of the process play a critical role in the final system selection. During the past decade, membrane bioreactor (MBR) has progressively replaced these biological wastewater treatment systems. For example, the most advanced form of MBRs called membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) could be operated with higher energy efficiency of 70% compared to CAS process. Moreover, even at a low footprint, MBRs could achieve a high volume of treatment in existing area with records of up to 50% extra capacity. Following these MBR systems, the next technological innovation was membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR), which uses the bubbleless aeration through the lumen of fiber membrane. The bubbleless aeration, in fact, assists the smooth growth of microorganisms compared to the bubbled aeration in CAS process which often interferes with the microbial growth in the system. Apart from providing diffused aeration, the membrane also serves as attachment medium for microorganisms that consume organics and nitrogen, thereby purifying the wastewater. Thus, within a single reactor, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification are achieved. The MABRs have been successful in the treatment of variety of pollutants such as landfill leachate, pharmaceutical wastewater, ammonia-rich wastewater, domestic wastewater, and anaerobic digestion liquor. In addition, their applications have flourished for the treatment of high carbon and nitrogen wastewater, volatile organic compounds, and xenobiotic components. However, the major limitation of this process is maintaining optimal biofilm thickness on the membrane surface and scaling-up mechanisms to real scale plants.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andreadakis AD (1992) Anaerobic digestion of piggery wastes. Water Sci Technol 25(1), 9–16. Retrieved May 19, 2018, from http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/25/1/9
Brindle K, Stephenson T, Semmen MJ (1998) Nitrification and oxygen utilisation in a membrane aeration bioreactor. J Membr Sci 144(1–2):197–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-7388(98)00047-7
Brindle K, Stephenson T, Semmens MJ (1999) Pilot-plant treatment of a high-strength brewery wastewater using a membrane aeration bioreactor. Water Environ Res 71(6):1197–1216. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143096X122492
Carrera J, Vicent T, Lafuente J (2004) Effect of influent COD/N ratio on biological nitrogen removal (BNR) from high-strength ammonium industrial wastewater. Process Biochem 39(12):2035–2041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2003.10.005
Casey E, Glennon B, Hamer G (1999) Review of membrane aerated biofilm reactors. Resour Conserv Recycl 27(1–2):203–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-3449(99)00007-5
Casey E, Glennon B, Hamer G (2000) Biofilm development in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor: effect of intra-membrane oxygen pressure on performance. Bioprocess Eng 23(5):457–465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004499900175
Christensen TH, Kjeldsen P, Albrechtsen H-J, Heron G, Nielsen PH, Bjerg PL, Holm PE (2009) Attenuation of landfill leachate pollutants in aquifers. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 24(2):119–202. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389409388463
Duvall CJ (2017) Low-energy nitrification of wastewaters using membrane aerated biofilm reactors. The University of Guelph, Ontario. Retrieved 19 May 2018, from https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10214/12139/Craig_Duvall_201801_MASc.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Enick OV, Moore MM (2007) Assessing the assessments: pharmaceuticals in the environment. Environ Impact Assess Rev 27(8):707–729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.01.001
Gunther J, Schmitz P, Albasi C, Lafforgue C (2010) A numerical approach to study the impact of packing density on fluid flow distribution in hollow fiber module. J Membr Sci 348(1–2):277–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2009.11.011
Hai FI, Yamamoto K, Fukushi K (2005) Different fouling modes of submerged hollow-fiber and flat-sheet membranes induced by high strength wastewater with concurrent biofouling. Desalination 180(1–3):89–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2004.12.030
Hamawand I, Ghadouani A, Bundschuh J, Hamawand S, AlJuboori RA, Chakrabarty S, Yusaf T (2017) A critical review on processes and energy profile of the Australian meat processing industry. Energies 10(5):731. https://doi.org/10.3390/en10050731
Han D, Currel MJ, Cao G (2016) Deep challenges for China’s war on water pollution. Environ Pollut 218:1222–1233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.078
Heffernan B, Murphy CD, Syron E, Casey EM (2009) Treatment of fluoroacetate by a Pseudomonas fluorescens bioflm grown in membrane aerated biofilm reactor. Environ Sci Technol 43(17), 6776–6785. Retrieved 19 May 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19764249
Hou F, Li B, Xing M, Wang Q, Hu L, Wang S (2013) Surface modification of PVDF hollow fiber membrane and its application in membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR). Biores Technol 140:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.04.056
Hu S, Yang F, Sun C, Zhang J, Wang T (2008) Simultaneous removal of COD and nitrogen using a novel carbon-membrane aerated biofilm reactor. J Environ Sci 142–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1001-0742(08)60022-4
Hwang JH, Cicek N, Oleszkiewicz J (2009) Effect of loading rate and oxygen supply on nitrification in a non-porous membrane biofilm reactor. Water Res 43(13):3301–3307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.04.034
Khalid S, Shahid M, Natasha Bibi I, Sarwar T, Shah AH, Niazi NK (2018) A review of environmental contamination and health risk assessment of wastewater use for crop irrigation with a focus on low and high-income countries. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050895
Kolb FR, Wilderer PA (1995) Activated carbon membrane biofilm reactor for the degradation of volatile organic pollutants. Water Sci Technol 31(1):205–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1223(95)00168-M
Kritsunankul C, Wantawin C (2008) Partial nutrient removal under insufficient organic carbon from digested swine wastewater in sequencing batch biofilm reactor. J Environ Sci Health 43(9):1085–1092. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934520802060092
LaPara TM, Cole AC, Shanahan JW, Semmens MJ (2006) The effects of organic carbon, ammoniacal-nitrogen, and oxygen partial pressure on the stratification of membrane-aerated biofilms. J. Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 33, 315–323. Retrieved 16 May 2018, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10295-005-0052-5
Li P, Li M, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Sun L, Li B (2016) The treatment of surface water with enhanced membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR). Chem Eng Sci 144:267–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2016.01.030
Li P, Zhao D, Zhang Y, Sun L, Zhang H, Lian M, Li B (2015) Oil-field wastewater treatment by hybrid membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) system. Chem Eng J 264:595–602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.11.131
Li T, Bai R, Ohandja D-G, Liu J (2009) Biodegradation of acetonitrile by adapted biofilm in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Biodegradation 20(4):569–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-008-9246-7
Li Y, Zhang K (2017) Pilot scale treatment of polluted surface waters using membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR). Agric Environ Biotechnol 32(2):376–386. https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2017.1399826
Lin J, Zhang P, Li G, Yin J, Li J, Zhao X (2016) Effect of COD/N ratio on nitrogen removal in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 113:74–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.01.009
Long Z (2013) Tertiary nitrification using membrane aerated biofilm reactors: process optimization, characterization and model development. University of Guelph, Ontario. Retrieved 8 May 2018, from https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10214/7527/Long_Zebo_201308_PhD.pdf?sequence=8
Martin KJ, Nerenberg R (2012) The membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) for water and wastewater treatment: principles, applications, and recent developments. Biores Technol 122:83–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.110
Misiak K, Casey E, Murphy CD (2011) Factors influencing 4-fluorobenzoate degradation in biofilm cultures of Pseudomonas knackmussii B13. Water Res 45(11):3512–3520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.04.020
Ohandja DG, Stuckey DC (2006) Development of a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor to completely mineralise perchloroethylene in wastewaters. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 81(11):1736–1744. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.1596
Oxymem (n.d.) Membrane aerated biofilm reactor. OxyMem, Athlone. Retrieved 8 May 2018, from https://oxymem.com/mabr-explained/
OxyMem (n.d.) OxyFILM—membrane aerated biofilm reactor. OxyMem, Athlone. Retrieved 18 June 2018, from https://oxymem.com/oxymem-mabr/
Pankhania M, Brindle K, Stephenson T (1999) Membrane aeration bioreactors for wastewater treatment: completely mixed and plug-flow operation. Chem Eng J 73(2):131–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1385-8947(99)00026-1
Parvatiyar MG, Govind R, Bishop DF (1996) Biodegradation of toluene in a membrane biofilter. J Membr Sci 119, 17–24. Retrieved 16 May 2018, from https://ac.els-cdn.com/037673889600021X/1-s2.0-037673889600021X-main.pdf?_tid=d8f9b159-c178-4356-bf43-f6d2c5407c9b&acdnat=1527846812_e565826ec184147ecd3b1555b48c3d7f
Potvin CM, Long Z, Zhou H (2012) Removal of tetrabromobisphenol A by conventional activated sludge, submerged membrane and membrane aerated biofilm reactors. Chemosphere 89(10):1183–1188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.07.011
Prinčič A, Mahne I, Megušar F, Paul EA, Tiedje JM (1998) Effects of pH and oxygen and ammonium concentrations on the community structure of nitrifying bacteria from wastewater. Appl Environ Microbiol 64(10):3584–3590. Retrieved 12 May 2018, from http://aem.asm.org/content/64/10/3584.full
Rabah FK, Darwish MS (2013) Characterization of ammonia removal from municipal wastewater using microwave energy: batch experiment. Environ Nat Resour Res 3(1). https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v3n1p42
Şahinkaya E, Hasar H, Kaksonen AH, Rittmann BE (2011) Performance of a sulfide-oxidizing, sulfur-producing membrane biofilm reactor treating sulfide-containing bioreactor effluent. Environ Sci Technol 45(9):4080–4087. https://doi.org/10.1021/es200140c
dos Santos LMF, Livingston AG (1995) Membrane-attached biofilms for VOC wastewater treatment. II: effect of biofilm thickness on performance. Biotechnol Bioeng 47(1):90–95. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260470111
Sato T, Qadir M, Yamamoto S, Endo T, Zahoor A (2013) Global, regional, and country level need for data on wastewater. Agric Water Manag 130:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2013.08.007
Semmens MJ, Dahm K, Shanahan J, Christianson A (2003) COD and nitrogen removal by biofilms growing on gas permeable membranes. Water Res 37(18):4343–4350. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(03)00416-0
Šimek M, Jı́šováa L, Hopkinsc DW (2002) What is the so-called optimum pH for denitrification in soil? Soil Biol Biochem 34(9):1227–1234. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0038-0717(02)00059-7
Stenstrom MK, Poduska RA (2003) The effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on nitrification. Water Res 14(6):643–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(80)90122-0
Stricker A-E, Lossing H, Gibson JH, Hong Y, Urbanic JC (2011) Pilot scale testing of a new configuration of the membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) to treat high-strength industrial sewage. Water Environ Res 83(1):3–14. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143009X12487095236991
Syron E, Semmens MJ, Casey E (2015) Performance analysis of a pilot-scale membrane aerated biofilm reactor for the treatment of landfill leachate. Chem Eng J 273:120–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.03.043
Syron E, Wright P, MacMohan P, Casey E (2013) Effect of biofilm control on nitrification in a membrane. In: Biofilm Conference. Paris. Retrieved from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59159d88d482e9c5b0d6331c/t/5922c2841b10e3a47d190130/1495450246124/SYRON_IWA-Biofilm-2013.pdf
Tan C, Ma F, Li A, Qui S, Li J (2013) Evaluating the effect of dissolved oxygen on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in polyurethane foam contact oxidation reactors. Water Environ Res 85(3):195–202. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143012X13503213812445
Terada A, Hibiya K, Nagai J, Tsuneda S, Hirata A (2003) Nitrogen removal characteristics and biofilm analysis of a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor applicable to high-strength nitrogenous wastewater treatment. J Biosci Bioeng 95(2):170–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-1723(03)80124-X
Terada A, Yamamoto T, Igarashi R, Tsuneda S, Hirata A (2006) Feasibility of a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor to achieve controllable nitrification. Biochem Eng J 28(2):123–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2005.10.001
Tian H, Zhang H, Li P, Sun L, Hou F, Li B (2015a) Treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater for reuse by coupled membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) system. RSC Adv 5(85). https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ra10091g
Tian H-L, Zhao J-Y, Zhang H-Y, Chi C-Q, Li B-A, Wu X-L (2015b) Bacterial community shift along with the changes in operational conditions in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 99(7):3279–3290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-6204-7
UN World Water Assessment Programme (2017) The United Nations World Water Development Report 2017: facts and figures. UNESCO, Perugia. Retrieved 3 May 2018, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002475/247553e.pdf
Walter B, Haase C, Räbiger N (2005) Combined nitrification/denitrification in a membrane reactor. Water Res 39(13):2781–2788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.027
Wang J, Liu G-F, Zhou J-T, Lei T-M (2012) Biodegradation of acid Orange 7 and its auto-oxidative decolorization product in membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 67:73–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2011.12.003
Wei X, Li B, Zhao S, Wang L, Zhang H, Li C, Wang S (2012) Mixed pharmaceutical wastewater treatment by integrated membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) system—a pilot-scale study. Biores Technol 122:189–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.041
Xiao-xiao Y, Zuo-wei W, Si-qing X (2016) Bioreduction of nitrate and perchlorate from aqueous solution using hydrogen/carbon dioxide membrane aeration biofilm reactor. China Environ Sci 36(10), 2972–2980. Retrieved 20 May 2018, from http://manu36.magtech.com.cn/Jweb_zghjkx/EN/abstract/abstract14818.shtml
Yamagiwa K, Ohkawa A, Hirasa O (1994) Simultaneous organic carbon removal and nitrification by biofilm formed on oxygen enrichment membrane. J Chem Eng Jpn 27(5):638–643. https://doi.org/10.1252/jcej.27.638
Yeh S-J, Jenkins CR (1978) Pure oxygen fixed film reactor. J Environ Eng Div 104(4):611–623. Retrieved 18 May 2018, from http://cedb.asce.org/CEDBsearch/record.jsp?dockey=0008217
Zhang X, Zhang H, Ye C, Wei M, Du J (2015) Effect of COD/N ratio on nitrogen removal and microbial communities of CANON process in membrane bioreactors. Biores Technol 189:302–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.006
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Karna, D., Visvanathan, C. (2019). From Conventional Activated Sludge Process to Membrane-Aerated Biofilm Reactors: Scope, Applications, and Challenges. In: Bui, XT., Chiemchaisri, C., Fujioka, T., Varjani, S. (eds) Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3259-3_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3259-3_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-3258-6
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-3259-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)