Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fatima Anjum, Irfan M. Khan, Jeonghwan Kim, Muhammad Aslam, Gaetan Blandin, Marc Heran, Geoffroy Lesage
Summary: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor is an innovative technology for treating domestic wastewater, with fouling mitigation being one of the biggest challenges in achieving positive energy balance. Hybrid processes like G-AnMBR, FO-AnMBR, and MEC-AnMBR are being developed to improve treatment efficiency and fouling mitigation. Techniques such as quorum quenching and sensing, cell entrapment, and membrane module vibrations are applied for fouling mitigation in AnMBRs. This paper reviews the latest trends in anaerobic membrane bioreactors research focusing on water quality, removal efficiencies, and fouling mitigation.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wirginia Tomczak, Marek Gryta, Ireneusz Grubecki, Justyna Milek
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive review of studies on biogas production from municipal and domestic wastewater using anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs). The impact of operating parameters on biogas production yield is evaluated, and the possibilities of using various fouling mitigation strategies are discussed.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xinbo Zhang, Haojie Huang, Qing Du, Fu Gao, Zhiwen Wang, Guangxue Wu, Wenshan Guo, Huu Hao Ngo
Summary: This study investigated the effects of sulfadiazine (SDZ) on the performance of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor system for treating swine wastewater. It was found that higher concentrations of SDZ significantly suppressed the system's performance, but lower concentrations still achieved high COD removal and biogas production. The presence of SDZ increased the levels of soluble microbial product and extracellular polymeric substances, leading to a shorter membrane fouling cycle and changes in microbial community.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xueqin Lu, Chaoting Zheng, Guangyin Zhen, Yujie Tan, Yuhan Zhou, Zhongyi Zhang, Chengxin Niu, Wanjiang Li, Dilibaierkezi Kudisi, Yue Wang, Yu-You Li
Summary: The study on a lab-scale AnMBR treating low-strength methanolic wastewater demonstrated good performance and process stability, but membrane fouling due to the production of colloidal particles and soluble biopolymers remains a major challenge.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adem Yurtsever, Erkan Basaran, Deniz Ucar, Erkan Sahinkaya
Summary: The study investigated the robustness of AnDMBR for synthetic textile wastewater treatment, finding that in the absence of sulfate addition, the removal rate of total COD and filtered COD was 91% and 93% respectively, but decreased to 79% after sulfate addition. The suspended solids concentration in textile wastewater was low, while the dye removal rate was high.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qazi Sohaib, Christophe Charmette, Jim Cartier, Geoffroy Lesage, Jean-Pierre Mericq
Summary: This study investigated the fouling and clogging behavior of the porous polypropylene (PP) membrane during the long-term biogas recovery operation. Different cleaning strategies were implemented, and the fouling was characterized. Acid cleaning with citric acid solution was found to be very effective in removing both reversible and irreversible fouling. The major inorganic fouling elements were Ca2+ and CO32-, while the organic fouling consisted of aromatic proteins, fulvic-like substances, and soluble microbial products.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chungheon Shin, Sebastien H. Tilmans, Felipe Chen, Perry L. McCarty, Craig S. Criddle
Summary: Our study demonstrates net energy positive operation of a pilot-scale anaerobic secondary treatment system in a temperate climate, utilizing a second-generation anaerobic fluidized membrane bioreactor (SAF-MBR 2.0) to treat domestic wastewater efficiently. Energy recovery from produced methane exceeds energy consumption due to fluidization and gas sparging, optimizing treatment costs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhuan Khai Lim, Tao Liu, Min Zheng, Maxime Rattier, Jurg Keller, Zhiguo Yuan, Jianhua Guo, Shihu Hu
Summary: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) with membrane reciprocation as fouling control method showed a higher energy recovery and more energy-efficient performance compared to conventional biogas sparging in treating domestic wastewater. The carbon balance calculation and energy evaluation demonstrated that membrane reciprocation consumed 62% less energy (0.59 kWh/m3) than biogas sparging (1.56 kWh/m3) at the same operational conditions. With high biogas recovery and energy-efficient fouling control, a positive net energy balance (0.55-0.74 kWh/m3) was achieved, indicating the potential of AnMBR with membrane reciprocation as an energy-positive A-stage in domestic sewage treatment.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Meibo He, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, Shujuan Huang, Boyan Xu, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study proposes the use of poly (acrylic acid) hydrogel as a post-treatment method for AnMBRs to remove and recover NH4+-N, thus promoting the circular economy and the adoption of AnMBR technology. The results show that PAA hydrogels have excellent adsorption capacities for NH4+-N and can be regenerated multiple times with minimal decline in adsorption capacity. The use of a strategic recirculation of HCl solution as an eluent also shows promise in concentrating NH4+-N as resources. Economically, the PAA hydrogel-based adsorption/desorption process coupled with eluent recirculation is cost-effective for removing and recovering NH4+-N from AnMBR effluent. Overall, this study has the potential to expand the application of AnMBRs and contribute to innovations in sustainable wastewater treatment.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Akashdeep Singh Oberoi, K. C. Surendra, Di Wu, Hui Lu, Jonathan W. C. Wong, Samir Kumar Khanal
Summary: This review critically examines the behavior and removal of pharmaceuticals in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR), focusing on removal efficiencies, mechanisms, influencing factors, and microbial community structures. The inhibitory effects of pharmaceuticals on AnMBR performance and membrane fouling are discussed, and the importance of membrane biofouling layer and its components in pharmaceuticals removal is highlighted. Recent advancements in AnMBR configurations for membrane fouling control and enhanced pharmaceuticals removal are also systematically discussed.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Laure Deschamps, David Merlet, Julien Lemaire, Nabila Imatoukene, Rayen Filali, Tiphaine Clement, Michel Lopez, Marc-Andre Theoleyre
Summary: A highly efficient AnMBR was designed to treat distillery wastewater, which had a shorter start-up period, higher COD removal efficiency, higher methane production, and longer cleaning cycle compared to anaerobic packed-bed bioreactor, showing potential for industrialization. Performance of the membrane was also studied to minimize fouling without affecting anaerobic digestion.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lee Jiwoo, Daeeun Kwon, Jeonghwan Kim
Summary: This study compared the fluidization of granular activated carbon in an AFMBR and the biogas sparging from the bottom of a G-AnMBR for treating low-strength wastewater. The results showed that AFMBR achieved high organic removal efficiency, methane production, and removal of organic micropollutants, while G-AnMBR had lower efficiency but lower energy consumption.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Muhammad Ahmar Siddiqui, Basanta Kumar Biswal, Philippe M. Heynderickx, Jeonghwan Kim, Samir Kumar Khanal, Guanghao Chen, Di Wu
Summary: This study investigated the application of an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor coupled with sulfate reduction (SrDMBR) for high-salinity and high-sulfate wastewater treatment. The results showed that dynamic membrane could rapidly form after each backwashing cycle, achieving high organic removal and sulfate reduction rates. Additionally, it was found that the microbial communities enriched in the sludge were different from those on the dynamic layer.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Dongle Cheng, Huu Hao Ngo, Wenshan Guo, Soon Woong Chang, Dinh Duc Nguyen, Quynh Anh Nguyen, Jian Zhang, Shuang Liang
Summary: The addition of 0.5 g/L biochar significantly increased the removal rate of sulfonamide antibiotics in AnMBR while reducing the concentration of COD. SMs inhibited COD removal and methane production, but the addition of biochar helped reduce membrane fouling.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lanhe Zhang, Lu Wang, Yuning Zhang, Da Wang, Jingbo Guo, Mingshuang Zhang, Yiran Li
Summary: The electrode ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (EMBR) showed better performance and membrane fouling characteristics in treating cosmetics wastewater, with increased COD removal efficiency and reduced transmembrane pressure compared to the conventional ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (UMBR). The electrode ultrafiltration membrane had a higher energy barrier with pollutants, contributing to its strong anti-fouling property.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qian Li, Haifeng Jia, Hongkai Guo, Yunyun Zhao, Guohua Zhou, Fang Yee Lim, Huiling Guo, Teck Heng Neo, Say Leong Ong, Jiangyong Hu
Summary: The performance of a modified bioretention facility in removing road runoff pollutants and the variations in physicochemical properties and microbial diversity were evaluated in this study. The results showed that the modified bioretention facility had lower effluent concentrations and better removal efficiencies, as well as a richer microbial community.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiyang Lyu, Chuansheng Wang, Shuai Guo, Weijie Poh, Qilin Gu, Lei Zhang, John Wang, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, How Yong Ng
Summary: Surface patterning on filtration membranes provides benefits of increasing effective filtration area and enhancing back diffusion of foulants. This study investigates the relationship between pattern sizes and foulant particle sizes, and finds that the performance of ceramic membranes with different topographies varies in fouling alleviation. The best design for fouling alleviation is a combination of h = 120 μm and s = 500 μm.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Zhu, Hong You, How Yong Ng, Zhipeng Li, Binghan Xie, Hongying Chen, Yi Ding, Haili Tan, Feng Liu, Chunpeng Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the impacts of bio-carriers on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for high saline mariculture wastewater treatment. The results showed that bio-carriers effectively improved the characteristics of cake layer, reduced the adhesion of proteins and humic acid-like materials on membrane surface, and shifted the precise composition of cake layers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Harsha S. Fowdar, Teck Heng Neo, Say Leong Ong, Jiangyong Hu, David T. McCarthy
Summary: Nature-based solutions or Green infrastructure (GI) are increasingly popular for managing stormwater pollution globally. The MUSIC model, an important tool for planning these systems, was evaluated for its performance in a tropical climate. The model was able to reasonably simulate outflows and pollutant concentrations, but had some limitations in simulating hydrographs and pollutographs under different inflow and drying/wetting conditions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Chin Ho Kirk, Qilin Gu, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, Swee Ching Tan, How Yong Ng, John Wang
Summary: This paper introduces a new ceramic membrane preparation process called melding, which combines vacuum infiltration and pore tuning techniques to construct the ceramic membrane layer directly within the porous ceramic substrate, with high permeance and pollutant removal efficiency.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qilin Gu, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, Weijie Poh, Chin Ho Kirk, Zhiyang Lyu, Lei Zhang, John Wang, How Yong Ng
Summary: The rational design of ceramic membrane cross-sectional microstructure has been shown to improve membrane filtration efficacy without affecting rejection performance. Gradient membrane layers generated through 3D spray-coating technique showed higher pure water flux and lower membrane resistance, with better filtration performance in aerobic membrane bioreactors.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chuansheng Wang, Meiyue Ding, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study successfully developed a novel vibrating AnMBR (VAnMBR) and compared its performance with the conventional biogas-sparging AnMBR (BSAnMBR) in terms of organics removal, fouling control, and energy recovery. The VAnMBR achieved better organics removal and lower fouling rates, leading to significant energy savings and increased biogas recovery compared to the BSAnMBR.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qingxian Su, Shujuan Huang, Hui Zhang, Zongsu Wei, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study investigated the abiotic transformations of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) by intermediates produced during biological nitrogen removal processes, including hydroxylamine (NH2OH), nitrite (NO2-), and nitric oxide (NO). The results showed that while NH2OH was not directly able to transform SMX, NO2- and NO could chemically transform SMX through various reactions. The study also determined the rate constants of SMX with NO2- and NO under different pH and oxygen conditions. The findings enhance our understanding of antibiotic fate during biological nitrogen removal and emphasize the role of reactive nitrogen species in antibiotic degradation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. W. Goh, Y. Xiong, W. Wu, Z. Huang, S. L. Ong, J. Y. Hu
Summary: In this study, a MIL-101(Cr)@TiO2 composite was synthesized to overcome the drawbacks of TiO2 and achieve efficient degradation of CBZ. The composite exhibited delayed recombination of photo-generated h(+) and e(-), reduced band gap energy, and showed excellent degradation performance under UV-A irradiation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boyan Xu, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, Shujuan Huang, Meibo He, Kibaek Lee, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study identified lipid-related membrane fouling in anaerobic membrane bioreactors and revealed the significant role of lipids in fouling formation.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Weilong Song, Dong Xu, Xuan Yang, Jian Li, Pin Zhao, Xinhua Wang, How Yong Ng
Summary: Zwitterionic surface engineering was employed to improve the antifouling ability of hollow-fiber membranes. A flow-through coating method using zwitterionic organosilica material was used to introduce zwitterions onto the membrane, which was then incorporated into a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to demonstrate enhanced fouling control. The zwitterion-coated membrane showed superior fouling resistance in the MBR, with improved critical flux, extended fouling cycle, and higher resistance to key foulants such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial polymer (SMP). The interfacial free energy analysis revealed that zwitterions altered the interfacial interaction between the membrane and the fouling substances, leading to elevated energy barrier for foulants attachment.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chuansheng Wang, Sumire Nakakoji, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, Peilin Zhu, Ryohei Tsukada, Masahiro Tatara, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study implemented a stepwise acclimatization strategy to optimize the methanogen populations, thus enhancing waste-to-energy efficiencies in food waste treatment at high organic loading rates (OLR). The findings provided valuable mechanistic and technical insights for future sustainable high-strength waste management, and revealed the influence of the strategy on microbial diversity and abundance.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Boyan Xu, Xiaohui Lu, Yuyao Fu, Liyue Diao, Heng Liang, Sungwoo Bae, How Yong Ng, Jun Ma
Summary: Marine harmful algae bloom (HAB) poses a threat to desalination plants worldwide. This study proposes a new pretreatment technology using ferrous iron/peroxymonosulfate (Fe2+/PMS) for seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) under HAB. Fe2+/PMS achieved improved flocculation and removal of algal cells, turbidity, and algal organics matters (AOMs). The seawater matrix enhanced the generation of high-valent iron (FeO2+), leading to improved coagulation efficiency. Fe2+/PMS also resulted in reduced membrane fouling and lower operational cost compared to conventional coagulation techniques. This technology shows promise for high-performance and low-cost pretreatment for seawater desalination plants under HAB conditions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Han Zhang, Weijia Gong, Ying Xue, Weichen Zeng, Langming Bai, Guibai Li, Heng Liang, How Yong Ng
Summary: Simulated-sunlight assisted MABR (L-MABR) can enhance the removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and reduce the production of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Photolysis dominates the SMX removal in L-MABR, with the help of ultraviolet (UV) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accelerate the degradation process of SMX.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chuansheng Wang, Tze Chiang Albert Ng, How Yong Ng
Summary: This study proposed an optimized hybrid vibrating ceramic MBR with a settling zone to achieve long-term high-flux operation for domestic wastewater treatment. The introduction of the settling zone enhanced nitrogen removal efficiency and reduced membrane fouling, while also lowering biomass and EPS concentrations to mitigate fouling. This energy-efficient VCMBR has the potential to advance high-flux MBR technology for future decentralized wastewater treatment.