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Model-based analysis of the effect of different operating conditions on fouling mechanisms in a membrane bioreactor

TitleModel-based analysis of the effect of different operating conditions on fouling mechanisms in a membrane bioreactor
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsSabia, Gianpaolo, Ferraris M., and Spagni A.
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume23
Pagination1598-1609
ISSN09441344
KeywordsArtificial, artificial membrane, biofouling, Biological, biological model, biomonitoring, Bioreactor, Bioreactors, denitrification, filtration, literature review, Membrane, Membranes, model, Models, operations technology, pressure, procedures, waste water, Wastewater, Water treatment
Abstract

This study proposes a model-based evaluation of the effect of different operating conditions with and without pre-denitrification treatment and applying three different solids retention times on the fouling mechanisms involved in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). A total of 11 fouling models obtained from literature were used to fit the transmembrane pressure variations measured in a pilot-scale MBR treating real wastewater for more than 1 year. The results showed that all the models represent reasonable descriptions of the fouling processes in the MBR tested. The model-based analysis confirmed that membrane fouling started by pore blocking (complete blocking model) and by a reduction of the pore diameter (standard blocking) while cake filtration became the dominant fouling mechanism over long-term operation. However, the different fouling mechanisms occurred almost simultaneously making it rather difficult to identify each one. The membrane “history” (i.e. age, lifespan, etc.) seems the most important factor affecting the fouling mechanism more than the applied operating conditions. Nonlinear regression of the most complex models (combined models) evaluated in this study sometimes demonstrated unreliable parameter estimates suggesting that the four basic fouling models (complete, standard, intermediate blocking and cake filtration) contain enough details to represent a reasonable description of the main fouling processes occurring in MBRs. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

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URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84954372723&doi=10.1007%2fs11356-015-5372-z&partnerID=40&md5=aaecbfb99aac5059691087ae1e7f757d
DOI10.1007/s11356-015-5372-z
Citation KeySabia20161598