Environmental Biotechnology

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 11 No. 4, Issue of October 15, 2008
© 2008 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received May 5, 2008 / Accepted May 22, 2008
DOI: 10.2225/vol11-issue4-fulltext-9
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors: Are membranes really necessary?

David Jeison*
Departamento de Ingeniería Química
Universidad de La Frontera
Casilla 54-D
Temuco, Chile
Tel: 56 45 325453
Fax: 56 45 325053
E-mail: djeison@ufro.cl

Israel Díaz
Sub-Department of Environmental Technology
Wageningen University
P.O. Box 8129
6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands
Tel: 31 317 483339
Fax: 31 317 482108
E-mail: israel.diaz@uva.es 

Jules B. van Lier
Sub-Department of Environmental Technology
Wageningen University
P.O. Box 8129
6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands
Tel: 31 317 483339
Fax: 31 317 482108
E-mail: Jules.vanLier@wur.nl

*Corresponding author

Keywords: cake layer, dynamic membrane, MBR, woven filter.

Abbreviations:

AnMBR: anaerobic membrane bioreactors
MBR: membrane bioreactors
TMP: trans-membrane pressure

Abstract   Full Text

Membranes themselves represent a significant cost for the full scale application of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR). The possibility of operating an AnMBR with a self-forming dynamic membrane generated by the substances present in the reactor liquor would translate into an important saving. A self-forming dynamic membrane only requires a support material over which a cake layer is formed, which determines the rejection properties of the system. The present research studies the application of self-forming dynamic membranes in AnMBRs. An AnMBR was operated under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions, using woven and non woven materials as support for the dynamic membranes. Results showed that the formation of a cake layer over the support materials enables the retention of more than 99% of the solids present in the reactor. However, only low levels of flux were achieved, up to 3 L/m2 x h, and reactor operation was unstable, with sudden increases in filtration resistance, due to excessive cake layer formation. Further fine-tuning of the proposed technology involves looking for conditions that can control effectively cake layer formation.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network