Controlling biofilm development in the extractive membrane bioreactor. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeo, Bibianna J. L.; Goh, Shuwen; Livingston, Andrew G.; Fane, Anthony G.
• Is Part Of: Separation science and technology. Volume 52:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Biofilm control -- membrane bioreactor -- extraction -- industrial wastewater -- phenol; Separation (Technology) -- Periodicals; 660.284205
• DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2016.1246569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-6395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The extractive membrane bioreactor can be used as a treatment of difficult organics in hostile wastewater. In this study, it was applied to phenol-contaminated saline water, where phenol is extracted from the feed stream through a dense membrane to the bioprocess, which is principally a biofilm on the downstream side of the membrane. Our study shows that uncontrolled biofilm growth (after 14 days of crossflow operation) can result in 42% reduction in phenol mass transfer. Biofilm control strategies such as reducing the inorganic loading rate and adopting a submerged aerated configuration to encourage membrane scouring were assessed in this study and limited the phenol mass transfer reduction to 13%.