A review on membrane fouling control in anaerobic membrane bioreactors by adding performance enhancers

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs), the combination of anaerobic digestion and membrane technology, have gained increasing popularity due to their remarkable advantages over aerobic membrane bioreactors, such as biogas production and potential energy use. However, membrane fouling remains a challenging issue that deteriorates the performance of membrane and shortens its lifespan. Pretreatment of feed wastewater by adding fouling reduction enhancers, such as adsorbents and flocculants, into anaerobic membrane bioreactor can effectively mitigate membrane fouling by altering the feed properties. Activated carbon, such as powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC), has been widely applied as an adsorbent to aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactors for membrane fouling control. Organic enhancers such as biochar and waste yeast, and inorganic enhancers like polyaluminum chloride and zeolite have also been applied to AnMBRs promoting flocculation and coagulation. Thus, this review discusses the impacts of different fouling reduction enhancers under anaerobic conditions as well as AnMBR system. In addition, the mechanisms of the enhancers mitigating the membrane fouling are also summarized for better understanding of the effects of the enhancers in AnMBRs.

Automated summary

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) combine anaerobic digestion with membrane technology, offering advantages such as biogas production and potential energy use. However, membrane fouling is a persistent issue that can be mitigated by using fouling reduction enhancers like adsorbents and flocculants. Activated carbon and other enhancers have been applied to AnMBRs to control fouling and promote flocculation and coagulation. This review discusses the impacts and mechanisms of different fouling reduction enhancers in AnMBRs.