Comparison study on the performance of two different gas-permeable membranes used in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

Yun Wu; Zuodong Wu; Hongliang Chu; Juan Li; Huu Hao Ngo; Wenshan Guo; Nan Zhang; Hongwei Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.121

Comparison study on the performance of two different gas-permeable membranes used in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Mar 25:658:1219-1227. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.121. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Authors

Yun Wu¹, Zuodong Wu¹, Hongliang Chu², Juan Li¹, Huu Hao Ngo³, Wenshan Guo⁴, Nan Zhang², Hongwei Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China; School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China.
² CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research and Design Institute, Tianjin 300387, China.
³ Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: ngohuuhao121@gmail.com.
⁴ Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.

PMID: 30677984
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.121

Abstract

This study compared the performance of two different gas-permeable membranes, PVDF and PP membrane, in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR). The surface characteristics and membrane pore blocking of these two membrane materials were studied utilizing AFM, SEM and CLSM. The PVDF membrane surface was more rough and hydrophilic, and possessed a better microbial affinity compared to PP. Furthermore, the MABR equipped with a PVDF membrane removed more COD (97.06 ± 0.97%) and TN (85.66 ± 0.87%) compared to the MABR with PP membrane (87.13 ± 0.87% and 71.13 ± 0.71%, respectively). As well, the PP membrane exhibited severe membrane pore blocking and had a lower oxygen transfer rate than the PVDF membrane. It is concluded that the PVDF membrane has potential as an aeration membrane material for MABRs.

Keywords: Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM); Membrane material; Membrane pore blocking; Membrane surface morphology; Membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR); Oxygen transfer rate.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Biofilms*
Biomass*
Bioreactors*
Carbon / analysis*
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Membranes, Artificial
Nitrogen / analysis*
Porosity
Waste Disposal, Fluid

Substances

Membranes, Artificial
Carbon
Nitrogen