Extractive biofilm membrane bioreactor with energy recovery from excess aeration and new membrane fouling control

Hybrid biofilm membrane bioreactor (BF-MBR) system featuring new mechanisms for recovering the excess energy from air bubbling flow in the biofilm reactor and for controlling membrane biofouling was preliminarily investigated in this study. Alternative design of the biofilm reactor was developed to utilize the bubbling flow from the lower aerobic chamber to generate a mechanical mixing in the upper anoxic chamber in the vertical biofilm reactor. Suspended solid (SS) concentration in the system was hydrodynamically controlled to be lower than 70 mg/L. The ultraviolet (UV) inactivation unit was integrated with the membrane filtration tank to limit biological activities for biofoulant productions and to decelerate the unwanted biofilm formation in the permeate tube. Membrane relaxations at various operating conditions were studied for optimum membrane fouling reductions under low SS environment. Combinations of membrane relaxation and the UV inactivation significantly prolonged sustainable operation periods of the membrane filtration in the BF-MBR process.