Liao G, Bin L, Tang B, Li P, Qiu B, Huang Z, Huang S, Fu F. Insights into the fouling layer of flat-sheet membrane and its development in an integrated oxidation ditch-membrane bioreactor.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022;
345:126466. [PMID:
34864179 DOI:
10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126466]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This work revealed the characteristics of fouling layer on the flat-sheet membranes and its development in an integrated oxidation-ditch membrane bioreactor. During the operation period (130 days), the reactor performed very well in removing pollutants. As the operation proceeded, membrane fouling occurred on the flat-sheet membranes and trans-membrane pressure showed a cyclical variation. The experimental results showed that the process of membrane fouling appeared successively in two different structures: biofilm (BF) and sludge fouling (SF). The substances causing membrane fouling were mainly organic foulants and a small amount of inorganic metal compounds, especially the protein-like and fulvic acid-like substances in loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS). The analysis of microbial communities revealed that SF and BF had very different microbial properties. Although most membrane foulants could be removed by physical and chemical cleaning methods, the protein-like and fulvic acid-like substances in BF were contribute much to causing irreversible membrane fouling.
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