Membrane Technology

Source: ZAINI UJANG

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Zaini Ujang 1
 Why Membrane?

Zaini Ujang 2
Why Membrane?

 Modular design, compact

 Small foot-print
 Continuous process, automation
 Good separation
 No phase and temperature change
 Easy for reuse, recycle
Zaini Ujang 3
Why Use Low-Pressure Membrane?

 Low fouling problems

 Low compaction on membrane surface
 Less energy consumption
 Relatively easier cleaning procedure
 Relatively cheaper
 Relatively easier maintenance
Zaini Ujang 4
Fouling on Membrane Surface

Permeate
Zaini Ujang Old
OldUnderstanding
Understanding
5
Permeate flow decline in membrane
operation

m3/h

Days
Zaini Ujang 6
 Conventional Solution to Fouling
Problem

 Back washing
 Mechanical cleaning
 Chemical cleaning
 Ultrasonic cleaning
 Change membrane module
 Engage membrane manufacturer

Zaini Ujang 7
 New Solutions to BioFouling

 Back washing
 Chemical cleaning
 Change membrane module
 Biotech solution

Zaini Ujang 8
Fouling on Membrane Surface
Fluid
flow

Retente

Permeate
Zaini Ujang Old
OldUnderstanding
Understanding9
Biofouling on Membrane Surface

Permeate
Zaini Ujang New
NewUnderstanding
Understanding
10
Biofouling on Low-Pressure Membrane Surface

Biofilm

Permeate
Zaini Ujang New
New Understanding
Understanding
11
Biofouling on High-Pressure Membrane

Biofilm

Permeate
Zaini Ujang New
New Understanding
Understanding
12
Chemical Cleaning of Biofoulants

Permeate
Zaini Ujang 13
Backwash on Low-Pressure Membrane

Biofilm

Backwash
New
NewUnderstanding
Understanding
Zaini Ujang 14
Backwash on Low-Pressure Membrane

Biofilm

Backwash
New
NewUnderstanding
Understanding
Zaini Ujang 15
Backwash on Low-Pressure Membrane

Backwash (Plus Chemicals)

New
NewUnderstanding
Understanding
Zaini Ujang 16
Why Immersed Membrane?

Zaini Ujang 17
Why Immersed System?

 Low pressure system

 Hybrid with biochemical processes
 Hybrid with chemical processes
 Less fouling problems
 Relatively easier cleaning procedure
 Less sludge or by-products production
Zaini Ujang 18
Conventional Membrane

Feed Permeate

Retente/
Concentrate

Zaini Ujang 19
Fig. Membrane plant for water treatment, Ogose Town, Japan
Zaini Ujang 20
Immersed Membrane

Permeate

Feed

Membrane

Aeration
Zaini Ujang 21
 Immersed Membrane

(a) Flat Sheet Membrane Zaini Ujang (b) Hollow Fibre Membrane22
Zenon’s MF Hollow-Fibre Module

Zaini Ujang 23
Kubota’s MF Tubular (Ceramic)

Zaini Ujang 24
Immersed Membrane

Feed Permeate

Retente

Zaini Ujang 25
Conventional Membrane

Feed Permeate

Retente/
Concentrate

Zaini Ujang 26
 Membrane Bioreactor

Zaini Ujang 27
Membrane Bioreactor

 Low pressure system

 Hybrid with biochemical processes
 Less fouling problems
 Relatively easier cleaning procedure
 Less sludge or by-products production

Zaini Ujang 28
 A
B

MBR
MBRPilot
PilotPlants
Plantsin
inTokyo
Tokyo
Zaini
(a) Mitsubishi (b) Kubota
Ujang (a) Mitsubishi (b) Kubota 29
MBR
MBR by
by Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Rayon
Rayon Engineering
Engineering

Zaini Ujang 30
 Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Rayon
Rayon Engineering
Engineering MBR
MBR
Items Pilot Plant Conditions

Treatment Capacity (m3/d) 32-48

Type of filtration Continuous flow
Flux (m3/m2.d) Operating flux 0.5-0.7
Daily average 0.4-0.6
Intermittent operation (min) Operating: 8-12; Stop: 2
MLSS (g/L) 10
Air diffusion (m3/m2.s) 0.06
Retention time (h) 5.5 - 8.0
Recirculation ration 3

Zaini Ujang 31
 Effluent
Effluent ofof MBR
MBR from
from Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Pilot
Pilot Plant
Plant

BOD < 10 mg/l

Feed SS < 5 mg/l

Activated
sludge

Treated
effluent

Zaini Ujang 32
Financial
Financial Comparison
Comparison
MBR
MBRwith
withConventional
ConventionalActivated
ActivatedSludge
Sludge

Items MBR CAS

Sludge (m3/day) 0.069 0.963
Operating cost* ($/day) 8.37 11.25
Sludge treatment* ($/day0 34.65 48.3
Running cost 72% 100%
Space 30% 100%

* Price for electricity at US$0.075

Source: MRC, 1997 (in Visvanathan et al., 2000)
Zaini Ujang 33
Terminology:
MBR Confusion?

 Activated sludge membrane reactor (Yamamoto et al.)

 Membrane process for biomass retention (Anderson et al.,
1984)
 Membrane separation bioreactor (Yamamoto et al.)
 Integrated type membrane separation activated sludge
(Takeuchi et al., 1990)
 Membrane bioreactors (most authors)

Zaini Ujang 34
Why MBR for Industrial Wastewater
Treatment?

 Small foot print

 Concentrate sludge
 Reduce sludge disposal
 Better solid-liquid separation

Zaini Ujang 35
Problems Associated of Activated Sludge
System

 Maintaining young sludge

 Separation between sludge-supernatant
 Foaming
 Bulking
 Large foot print for clarifiers

Zaini Ujang 36
 Why MBR for Wastewater Treatment?
Bioreactor
Primary clarifier Secondary clarifier

Effluent

Sludge
Return sludge
Sludge
Activated
ActivatedSludge
SludgeSystem
System
Zaini Ujang 37
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Bioreactor
Primary clarifier Membrane Unit

Effluent

Sludge
Return sludge
Sludge
Activated
ActivatedSludge
SludgeMembrane
MembraneSystem
System
Zaini Ujang 38
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment

Effluent

Influent

Bioreactor

Activated Sludge Membrane System

Zaini Ujang 39
Features of Membrane Application in
Biological Wastewater Treatment

 Solid/liquid separation
 Aeration
 Dialysis

Zaini Ujang 40
 Features of Membrane Application in Biological
Wastewater Treatment
 Solid/liquid separation

External membrane Immersed membrane

Zaini Ujang 41
 Features of Membrane Application in Biological
Wastewater Treatment
 Aeration
Oxygen/air
Oxygen/air

Diffuse/fine bubble aeration Diffuse aeration &

biofilm
Zaini Ujang 42
Features of Membrane Application in Biological
Wastewater Treatment
 Dialysis
Effluent
Nutrients Recycling biomedium contains
extracted priority pollutants
Membrane
module

Influent
Extraction
Extractionofofpriority
prioritypollutants
pollutants

Zaini Ujang 43
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment

 Organic removal
 Nitrification-denitrification
 Phosphorus removal

Zaini Ujang 44
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
First Generation MBR
Bioreactor
Secondary
Primary clarifier clarifier Membrane

Effluent

Sludge
For polishing
Return sludge
Sludge
Activated
ActivatedSludge
SludgeMembrane
MembraneSystem
System
Zaini Ujang 45
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Second Generation MBR
Bioreactor Chlorination/
Secondary Disinfection
Primary clarifier clarifier

Effluent

Sludge
For Reuse
Return sludge
Sludge

Activated
ActivatedSludge
SludgeMembrane
MembraneSystem
System
Zaini Ujang 46
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Third Generation MBR
Bioreactor
Primary clarifier Membrane Unit

Effluent

Sludge
Polishing &
Return sludge Compact
Sludge
External
Externalmembrane
membranesystem
system
Zaini Ujang 47
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Fourth Generation MBR

Bioreactor
Primary clarifier Effluent

Compact,
Advanced
Sludge Treatment &
Reuse
Immersed
Immersedmembrane
membranesystem
system

Zaini Ujang 48
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment?
Fifth Generation MBR

Bioreactor Effluent

Advanced
Treatment,
Reuse & Compact

Immersed
ImmersedMembrane
MembraneSystem
System
Without
WithoutClarifiers
Clarifiers
Zaini Ujang 49
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment?
Sixth Generation MBR

Bioreactor Effluent

Improvement on energy saving & cleaning methods

using strong bubble aeration & hollow fiber
Membrane
MembraneSystem
SystemWithout
WithoutClarifiers
Clarifiers
Zaini Ujang 50
 Hollow-Fibre MBR
Feed

Hollow
fiber
membranes
Wastewater

Bubbles
from
diffusers

Diffusers
Zaini Ujang 51
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Seventh Generation MBR

Air Effluent

Feed
Treatment
& Aeration
Bioreactor
Membrane
Membraneas asSolid/Liquid
Solid/Liquid
Separation
Separation&&Air
AirDiffuser
Diffuser
Zaini Ujang 52
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Eighth Generation MBR

Effluent

Feed
Simultaneous
organic &
nutrient
Bioreactor removal

Sequencing
SequencingBatch
Batch
Membrane
MembraneBioreactor
Bioreactor
Zaini Ujang 53
 MBR for Wastewater Treatment
Ninth Generation MBR

PAC Effluent

Feed
Simultaneous
organic &
nutrient
Bioreactor removal
PAC
PAC//Membrane
Membrane
Bioreactor
Bioreactor
Zaini Ujang 54
Problems of Membrane Bioreactor

 Overflow of mixed liquor

 Irregular condition of sludge
 Biofouling during anaerobic stage
 Low water level during influent low flowrate
 Old sludge, less productivity

Zaini Ujang 55