Advanced wastewater treatment and membrane fouling control by electro-encapsulated self-forming dynamic membrane bioreactor

An advanced concept of aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for highly efficient wastewater treatment has been disclosed by introduction of an electro and encapsulated self-forming dynamic biomembrane (e-ESFDM). The biological filtering membrane is intercalated between two woven polyester fabrics as supports that assist the formation and protect the biomembrane. The innovative architecture of the e-ESFDM in combination with electrocoagulation processes resulted in efficient and cost-effective wastewater treatment and control of the membrane fouling. The performance of the e-ESFDMBR was compared to a yet highly efficient ESFDMBR, where the electric field was not present. The ESFDM-based reactors both showed comparable results in the removal of organic matter, in terms of COD and DOC. On the other hand, e-ESFDMBR exceeded the performance of the ESFDMBR in the reduction of nitrogen- and phosphorous-containing pollutants, responsible for eutrophication processes in the environment, and recalcitrant molecules, such as humic-like substances. In addition, an extremely low fouling rate was observed for the e-ESFDM bioreactor. Insights on the biological processes involved in the developed MBR were provided by investigations on the microbiological diversity found in reactor mixed liquor, ESFDM layer and treated wastewater.

Jessa Marie J. Millanar-Marfa, Mary Vermi Aizza Corpuz, Laura Borea, Carlo Cabreros, Mark Daniel G. De Luna, Florencio Jr. Ballesteros, Giovanni Vigliotta, Tiziano Zarra, Shadi W. Hasan, Gregory V. Korshin, Antonio Buonerba, Vincenzo Belgiorno, Vincenzo Naddeo