Entrapped-cells-based anaerobic forward osmosis membrane bioreactor treating medium-strength domestic wastewater: Fouling characterization and performance evaluation

Enhancing the water flux and biological treatment in bilateral influent submerged FOMBR via applying the strategy of intermittent discharging salt

The forward osmotic membrane bioreactor (FOMBR) is an emerging innovative technology with broad application prospects in the field of wastewater treatment. Its application is severely limited by concentration polarization, salinity accumulation, and evident water flux decline. Gradual salinity accumulation to a maximum conductivity of 19.7 mS cm^-1 under continuous flow operation suppressed the activities of sludge and biodegradation efficiencies. The employment of the regulation of intermittent supernatant discharge was first investigated to alleviate inhibition caused via accumulated salinity in the bioreactor, and bilateral influent was examined with respect to the performance of the FOMBR. The preferable condition to be applied was FO orientation mode (i.e. active layer facing feed) with spacers added to the surface. Given the decreased salt concentration with 2 L of the supernatant removed per day, the water flux declined more slowly and sludge activities were recovered. When compared to the performance without discharging supernatant, the strategy of controlling salinity could improve the removal efficiencies of NH₄⁺-N, PO₄^3--P, and total organic carbon (TOC) by 15.1, 14.3, and 2.3%, respectively. Additionally, the sludge in the intermittent supernatant discharge bioreactor exhibited better sludge property, larger sludge particle size, and recovered sludge activities with the mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS) stable at around 4.90 g L^-1. Therefore, regulation of intermittent salt discharge and controlling the salinity concentration in bioreactor can be employed as an effective method to deal with concentration polarization and salinity accumulation in the FOMBR.

A comprehensive review of nutrient-energy-water-solute recovery by hybrid osmotic membrane bioreactors

Hybrid osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) takes advantage of the cooperation of varying biological or desalination processes and can achieve NEWS (nutrient-energy-water-solute) recovery from wastewater. However, a lack of universal parameters hinders our understanding. Herein, system configurations and new parameters are systematically investigated to help better evaluate recovery performance. High-quality water can be produced in reverse osmosis/membrane distillation-based OMBRs, but high operation cost limits their application. Although bioelectrochemical system (BES)/electrodialysis-based OMBRs can effectively achieve solute recovery, operation parameters should be optimized. Nutrients can be recovered from various wastewater by porous membrane-based OMBRs, but additional processes increase operation cost. Electricity recovery can be achieved in BES-based OMBRs, but energy balances are negative. Although anaerobic OMBRs are energy-efficient, salinity accumulation limits methane productions. Additional efforts must be made to alleviate membrane fouling, control salinity accumulation, optimize recovery efficiency, and reduce operation cost. This review will accelerate hybrid OMBR development for real-world applications.

Unlocking the application potential of forward osmosis through integrated/hybrid process

Study of forward osmosis (FO) has been increasing steadily over recent years with applications mainly focusing on desalination and wastewater treatment processes. The working mechanism of FO lies in the natural movement of water between two streams with different osmotic pressure, which makes it useful in concentrating or diluting solutions. FO has rarely been operated as a stand-alone process. Instead, FO processes often appear in a hybrid or integrated form where FO is combined with other treatment technologies to achieve better overall process performance and cost savings. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the need for hybridization/integration for FO membrane processes, with emphasis given to process enhancement, draw solution regeneration, and pretreatment for FO fouling mitigation. In general, integrated/hybrid FO processes can reduce the membrane fouling propensity; prepare the solution suitable for subsequent value-added uses and production of renewable energy; lower the costs associated with energy consumption; enhance the quality of treated water; and enable the continuous operation of FO through the regeneration of draw solution. The future potential of FO lies in the success of how it can be hybridized or integrated with other technologies to minimize its own shortcomings, while enhancing the overall performance.

Forward osmosis membrane processes for wastewater bioremediation: Research needs

Increasing research and development works have been made to develop forward osmosis (FO) processes as a cost-effective substitute for energy intensive water vacuum suction facility in submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) applications. Perceived to be a spontaneous water driven process without external applied pressures, the FO has been applied in lab and pilot scales for wastewater bioremediation. This paper reviewed the state-of-the-art developments on the FO unit, the process, and ways of enhancing process performance, particularly on the aspects of flux enhancement, flow resistance reduction, and draw solute with low reverse salt diffusion, which are relevant to enhanced osmotic MBR performance. The perspective to realize the use of FO processes in revision of currently existing energy intensive osmotic MBR processes is discussed with research needs being highlighted.