Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review

Currently, there is growing scientific interest in the development of more economic, efficient and environmentally friendly municipal wastewater treatment technologies. Laboratory and pilot-scale surveys have revealed that the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is a promising alternative for muni...

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Main Authors: Yerkanat N. Kanafin, Dinara Kanafina, Simos Malamis, Evina Katsou, Vassilis J. Inglezakis, Stavros G. Poulopoulos, Elizabeth Arkhangelsky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/12/967
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author Yerkanat N. Kanafin
Dinara Kanafina
Simos Malamis
Evina Katsou
Vassilis J. Inglezakis
Stavros G. Poulopoulos
Elizabeth Arkhangelsky
author_facet Yerkanat N. Kanafin
Dinara Kanafina
Simos Malamis
Evina Katsou
Vassilis J. Inglezakis
Stavros G. Poulopoulos
Elizabeth Arkhangelsky
author_sort Yerkanat N. Kanafin
collection DOAJ
description Currently, there is growing scientific interest in the development of more economic, efficient and environmentally friendly municipal wastewater treatment technologies. Laboratory and pilot-scale surveys have revealed that the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is a promising alternative for municipal wastewater treatment. Anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology combines the advantages of anaerobic processes and membrane technology. Membranes retain colloidal and suspended solids and provide complete solid–liquid separation. The slow-growing anaerobic microorganisms in the bioreactor degrade the soluble organic matter, producing biogas. The low amount of produced sludge and the production of biogas makes AnMBRs favorable over conventional biological treatment technologies. However, the AnMBR is not yet fully mature and challenging issues remain. This work focuses on fundamental aspects of AnMBRs in the treatment of municipal wastewater. The important parameters for AnMBR operation, such as pH, temperature, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time and solids retention time, are discussed. Moreover, through a comprehensive literature survey of recent applications from 2009 to 2021, the current state of AnMBR technology is assessed and its limitations are highlighted. Finally, the need for further laboratory, pilot- and full-scale research is addressed.
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spelling doaj.art-ba3e47ae3bdf4f0d839e3ce30f49271f2023-11-23T09:30:35ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752021-12-01111296710.3390/membranes11120967Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature ReviewYerkanat N. Kanafin0Dinara Kanafina1Simos Malamis2Evina Katsou3Vassilis J. Inglezakis4Stavros G. Poulopoulos5Elizabeth Arkhangelsky6Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanEnvironmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UKChemical and Process Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UKEnvironmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanEnvironmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanCurrently, there is growing scientific interest in the development of more economic, efficient and environmentally friendly municipal wastewater treatment technologies. Laboratory and pilot-scale surveys have revealed that the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is a promising alternative for municipal wastewater treatment. Anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology combines the advantages of anaerobic processes and membrane technology. Membranes retain colloidal and suspended solids and provide complete solid–liquid separation. The slow-growing anaerobic microorganisms in the bioreactor degrade the soluble organic matter, producing biogas. The low amount of produced sludge and the production of biogas makes AnMBRs favorable over conventional biological treatment technologies. However, the AnMBR is not yet fully mature and challenging issues remain. This work focuses on fundamental aspects of AnMBRs in the treatment of municipal wastewater. The important parameters for AnMBR operation, such as pH, temperature, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time and solids retention time, are discussed. Moreover, through a comprehensive literature survey of recent applications from 2009 to 2021, the current state of AnMBR technology is assessed and its limitations are highlighted. Finally, the need for further laboratory, pilot- and full-scale research is addressed.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/12/967anaerobic digestionmembrane bioreactorwastewater treatment
spellingShingle Yerkanat N. Kanafin
Dinara Kanafina
Simos Malamis
Evina Katsou
Vassilis J. Inglezakis
Stavros G. Poulopoulos
Elizabeth Arkhangelsky
Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
Membranes
anaerobic digestion
membrane bioreactor
wastewater treatment
title Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
title_full Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
title_fullStr Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
title_short Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
title_sort anaerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment a literature review
topic anaerobic digestion
membrane bioreactor
wastewater treatment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/12/967
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AT evinakatsou anaerobicmembranebioreactorsformunicipalwastewatertreatmentaliteraturereview
AT vassilisjinglezakis anaerobicmembranebioreactorsformunicipalwastewatertreatmentaliteraturereview
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