Performance and energy balance of an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor treating concentrated municipal wastewater.
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75% confidenceAn anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) was used to treat concentrated municipal wastewater using forward osmosis (FO) process, achieving high COD removal efficiencies (>90%) and stable digestion.
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Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of treating concentrated municipal wastewater using the forward osmosis (FO) process in an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) over a 180-day period. The pre-concentration factor of the FO process was gradually increased from 1 to 2 and 3.33, leading to stepwise increases in the organic loading rate (from 0.17 to 0.71 kg COD/m 3 .d) and salinity accumulation (from 1.30 to 3.30‰) in the AnDMBR, while high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies (>90%) and overall digestion stability were generally maintained. Subsequently, three different sludge retention times (SRTs) were applied in continuous operation at 3.33 pre-concentration factor-20, 40, and 60 days-to evaluate the changes in sludge characteristics and filtration performance of the dynamic membrane (DM). Lower filtration resistance was observed at an SRT of 20 days, potentially due to enhanced flocculation associated with higher bulk EPS concentrations and reduced soluble microbial product accumulation in the reactor. Morphological analysis of the DM revealed the presence of inorganic elements, particularly divalent cations, as well as organic substances, including proteins and polysaccharides. Bacterial community analyses of anaerobic sludge showed that the phyla Chloroflexota, Bacteroidota, Patescibacteria, and Bacillota were the most resilient and adaptable under varying stress conditions. Finally, the energy balance assessment indicated that a net positive energy balance could be achieved, with energy recovery exceeding 2.41 kWh/m 3 at an FO pre-concentration factor of 3.33.