Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Riccardo Campo, Claudio Lubello, Tommaso Lotti, Gaetano Di Bella
Summary: This review discusses the impact of aerobic granular sludge on performance and membrane fouling in combined aerobic granular sludge-membrane bioreactor systems. The research highlights that while aerobic granular sludge technology can mitigate fouling, granule breakage remains a critical issue to be addressed in the AGS-MBR process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Leila Karimi, Hossein Hazrati, Soorena Gharibian, Hanieh Shokrkar
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different anode/cathode materials, electrode gap sizes, and voltage levels on reducing membrane fouling in a lab-scale EMBR system. The results showed that Fe/Al material type for cathode and anode, with an electrode gap of 1.5 cm and 1 V voltage, performed best in reducing membrane fouling and decreasing carbohydrate, protein, and membrane fouling substances. Additionally, operational conditions of EMBR6 demonstrated high efficiency in COD removal and reduced sludge production significantly.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingda Zhou, Qin Shi, Yayi Wang
Summary: This study successfully improved the operation efficiency of anammox-MBR by surface-coating hydrophilic modification with polyvinyl alcohol, reducing membrane fouling and stabilizing anammox performance. However, increasing membrane coating thickness leads to higher filtration resistance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yaqin Wang, Jianwei Li, Jianrong Zhu
Summary: This experimental work compared the fouling characteristics of submerged MBR and sidestream MBR with aerobic granular sludge. The results showed that the submerged membrane bioreactor with granular sludge had a longer operation time and more effectively reduced membrane fouling. The key fouling factor in the MGSBRs was pore blocking resistance, and the presence of microorganisms in the foulants contributed to membrane fouling.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Recep Kaya, Mustafa Evren Ersahin, Hale Ozgun, Borte Kose-Mutlu, Mehmet Emin Pasaoglu, Ismail Koyuncu
Summary: Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology is considered a promising method for advanced wastewater treatment due to its high-quality effluent. However, fouling caused by intensive activated sludge used in submerged MBR systems is a major issue. To overcome this problem, researchers have explored the use of vibratory processes in MBRs. This review aims to gather current efforts in fouling control by vibratory motion, specifically in submerged activated sludge membrane bioreactors, and presents a comparative analysis of different vibration types and their experimental results.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meilin Zhang, Shaofeng Li, Jian Sun, Jianping Sun, Lei Wang, Rui Zhao
Summary: In order to reduce the hazard of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) to the water ecology, the removal mechanism of SMX in wastewater was revealed. The evaluation of PVDF/DA modified membrane in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) showed good removal ability for SMX after certain acclimation. The PVDF/DA membrane could alleviate membrane fouling, improve the service life of the membrane, and reduce its operating cost.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Houlong Yang, Zicong Li, Yucheng Chen, Zhongbo Zhou
Summary: Microparticles in anaerobic membrane bioreactors are mainly concentrated in the acidogenesis phase, especially in compartment C1, where they accumulate in the cake layers and show a positive correlation with biomass accumulation rate. Coupling multi-phase anaerobic bioprocesses with membrane units may be beneficial for fouling control in AnMBRs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Muhammad Bilal Asif, Baoyu Ren, Chengyue Li, Keyou He, Xihui Zhang, Zhenghua Zhang
Summary: Intermittent in-situ ozonation was provided in the Fe (II)-dosed membrane bioreactor for the first time, showing a 33% reduction in membrane fouling without detrimental effects on effluent quality. The study suggests that this method is a simple and attractive approach to extend the operation of iron-dosed MBRs.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Muhammad Bilal Asif, Chengyue Li, Baoyu Ren, Tahir Maqbool, Xihui Zhang, Zhenghua Zhang
Summary: In-situ ozonation in the ceramic MBR membrane tank, known as Oz-MBR, enhanced micropollutant removal efficiency and alleviated membrane fouling. The increased abundance of microbial taxa responsible for removing complex pollutants and/or ozone-assisted oxidation may contribute to the improved removal efficiency of micropollutants in the Oz-MBR.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bing Zhang, Jing Shen, Xin Mao, Bing Zhang, Yu Shen, Wenxin Shi
Summary: A novel membrane bioreactor (MBR) called ABGMBR was developed to improve pollutant removal and reduce membrane fouling. Compared to the control MBR (AGMBR), the ABGMBR system had higher pollutant removal rate and longer operation time. The ABGMBR system effectively reduced the content of pollutants on the membrane, resulting in the formation of a porous and loose cake layer and a slow increase in transmembrane pressure. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory suggested that the aggregation and adhesion of foulants on the membrane were greatly inhibited in ABGMBR.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
H. Taherizadeh, S. A. Hashemifard, A. A. Izadpanah, A. F. Ismail
Summary: The study demonstrated that modifying PVC polymer with zinc oxide nanoparticles and using ferric chloride coagulant for municipal wastewater treatment is an effective technique to meet standard levels and improve nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Gagandeep Kaur, Kazuho Nakamura, Kentaro Ogawa, Kenji Wakui
Summary: Being a promising and sustainable technology, Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) will be highly in demand in the future. The development of novel fouling monitoring indexes based on filtration properties enables more economical processes. The module clogging and fouling properties were monitored in a lab-scale MBR using visual observation, filtration resistance, and zeta potential.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Keyi Zhang, Yue Yang, Sen Qiao, Jiti Zhou, Xie Quan
Summary: Applying alternating current voltage on CNTs-HFMs can effectively reduce membrane fouling rate and improve the performance of wastewater treatment systems. The AC potential helps to reduce the binding of pollutants on the membrane, lower pollution levels, and decrease EPS concentration in biomass, thereby suppressing membrane fouling.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jianbo Liu, Faqian Sun, Panyue Zhang, Yan Zhou
Summary: The study introduced a novel APQ bead technology, which effectively alleviated MBR biofouling by reducing concentrations of EPS and AHL, extending operational period. This technology showed potential for biofouling control.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wei Yao, Lei Hou, Fan Wang, Zhan Wang, Hanmin Zhang
Summary: In this study, a novel model was established to predict the variation of transmembrane pressure in constant flux mode. The model showed high accuracy and provided guidance for determining cleaning frequency.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Arvin Sohrabi, Mousa Meratizaman, Shuli Liu
Summary: This paper simulates and discusses possible solutions to improve the economic and technical performances of a battery-less renewable energy-powered BWRO system under real climate conditions. The study finds that the photovoltaic-based system performs better in terms of specific energy consumption and unused energy ratio.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chunlan Pan, Xiaoyin Hu, Vishal Goyal, Theyab R. Alsenani, Salem Alkhalaf, Tamim Alkhalifah, Fahad Alturise, Hamad Almujibah, H. Elhosiny Ali
Summary: This paper introduces a novel waste heat recovery method using the hot flue gas from a ship's engine to produce liquefied hydrogen while meeting the ship's air-conditioning requirement. A comprehensive feasibility assessment is conducted and an artificial neural network with a multiobjective grey wolf optimization method is used for optimization. The findings indicate the highest mean sensitivity index of the flash temperature and the best optimization scenario for exergy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and liquefied hydrogen cost.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daniele Chinello, Jan Post, Louis C. P. M. de Smet
Summary: In this study, PVDF-based anion-exchange membranes were designed to selectively separate nitrate from chloride. Experimental data showed that increasing the concentration of PVDF enhanced nitrate transport but also increased the membrane electrical resistance. The selectivity of nitrate was found to be independent of the membrane thickness and mainly driven by the increased affinity between the anion and the membrane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Umar Noor, Muhammad Fayyaz Farid, Ammara Sharif, Amna Saleem, Zubair Nabi, Muhammad Furqan Mughal, Kiran Abbas, Toheed Ahmed
Summary: Global water scarcity is increasing, and water desalination is an important solution. Multifunctional advanced materials, such as membrane materials and solar-driven desalination, play a crucial role in water desalination. Additionally, these materials can be used for water purification, wastewater treatment, and pollutant elimination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Emrah Gumus
Summary: With growing global concerns about climate change and environmental impacts, the use of nuclear energy in naval vessels offers a cleaner and more efficient solution to reduce emissions and address water and energy supply challenges. This study explores a novel system that combines a nuclear-driven supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle with reverse osmosis cogeneration to meet the water and electricity demands in maritime operations, enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and self-sufficiency of naval vessels. The results indicate that the system has the potential to be a viable and effective solution for naval operations.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dao Thi Thanh Huyen, Saikat Sinha Ray, Young -Nam Kwon
Summary: This study focuses on the modification of a commercially available polyamide thin-film composite membrane with a zwitterionic material to enhance its fouling resistance. The modified membrane shows improved salt rejection and reduced permeability compared to the pristine membrane. Fouling tests demonstrate that the modified membrane has a lower fouling ratio and higher recovery ratio. The enhanced antifouling characteristics are attributed to the improved hydrophilicity resulting from the zwitterionic brushes and the salting-in effect.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Niklas Koeller, Lukas Mankertz, Selina Finger, Christian J. Linnartz, Matthias Wessling
Summary: This study presents a methodology to scale up Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization (FCDI) technology from lab-scale to pilot-scale systems. By increasing membrane area and using a stacking approach, the FCDI modules were successfully scaled up and achieved a salt transfer rate comparable to lab-scale systems. This provides a foundation for future assessments of energy demand and economics.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mona Gulied, Sifani Zavahir, Tasneem Elmakki, Hyunwoong Park, Guillermo Hijos Gago, Ho Kyong Shon, Dong Suk Han
Summary: This study introduces a novel hybrid system that combines direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) to facilitate seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine enrichment and selective lithium recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiqiang Zhang, Ruifeng Deng, Jiao Zhang, Lu She, Guangfeng Wei, Renyong Jia, Pengyu Xiang, Siqing Xia
Summary: A transmembrane electro-chemisorption system with authigenic acid and base was developed for enhancing ammonia recovery from strong ammonia wastewater. The system efficiently transformed ammonium into free ammonia, which was then adsorbed and recovered through transmembrane chemisorption. This system yielded pure (NH4)2SO4 product and produced valuable byproducts of pure hydrogen and oxygen. Higher applied voltage resulted in better ammonia recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alena Popova, Sandrine Boivin, Takuji Shintani, Takahiro Fujioka
Summary: This study aimed to produce a high-integrity RO membrane by forming a polyamide skin layer on a TE support layer, in order to enhance the integrity of the membrane and improve the microbiological safety of potable water reuse.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sanjana Yagnambhatt, Saber Khanmohammadi, Jonathan Maisonneuve
Summary: This study investigates the concept of using heat to enhance reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The effect of temperature on water permeate flux, specific energy, permeate quality, and applied operating pressures is evaluated using an analytical model. The results suggest that under specific conditions, the tradeoff between savings in mechanical pump work and thermal energy input in thermally-enhanced RO can be favorable, leading to overall energy savings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiangju Si, Chenrui Xue, Shun Li, Linchao Yang, Weiwei Li, Jie Yang, Jihong Lan, Ningbo Sun
Summary: To meet the huge demand for lithium resources, there is an urgent need to develop a new efficient technology for lithium recovery from salt-lake brines. In this study, a selective membrane capacitive deionization system is reported, which achieves high lithium recovery capacity and rate through the use of materials with efficient intercalated pseudo-capacitance and a high specific area porous carbon. The use of a modified thin-coated membrane allows for selective Li+ recovery, and adjusting the concentrations of Li+ and Mg2+ in the feed solution enables higher Li+/Mg2+ selectivity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohamed R. Salem, R. Y. Sakr, Ghazy M. R. Assassa, Omar A. Aly
Summary: This research proposes a new method of using wasted thermal energies as an additional heating source for solar still distillation units (SSDUs) to increase productivity and reduce pollution and global warming. By testing two SSDUs, the study shows that heating airflow can raise temperatures, enhance freshwater production, and improve system thermal efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qimeng Sun, Miao Sun, Linyan Yang, Yuan Gao, Xinghai Zhou, Lihua Lyu, Chunyan Wei
Summary: This study presents an innovative design and fabrication of a fabric-based conical roll (FCR) evaporator, which enables low-temperature evaporation and achieves high evaporation efficiency with excellent thermal management ability. The evaporator has demonstrated advanced light-harvesting capability and can produce freshwater that meets drinking water standards, showing great potential for applications in desalination and sewage treatment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yidong Zhang, Wangfang Deng, Meiyan Wu, Chao Liu, Guang Yu, Qiu Cui, Pedram Fatehi, Chunlin Xu, Bin Li
Summary: In this study, a novel polydopamine-functionalized lignin-containing pulp foam evaporator with high-efficiency desalination and multi-contaminant adsorption capabilities was designed. The foam evaporator showed excellent light absorption, water absorption, thermal conductivity, and chelation abilities, allowing for solar evaporation and contaminant adsorption synergistically. It also exhibited potential applications in metal ion concentration and contaminated seawater treatments, and demonstrated superior biodegradability compared to poly-styrene foam. This foam material holds promise for developing multifunctional photo-thermal systems for solar-driven water purification.
