1.

0 History of Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)

In the beginning, the first membrane bioreactor was developed around 1960s.Then, a new company
called Zenon Environmental were formed in 1980s at North America were developing an MBR
system called ZenoGem MBR system. While in Japan at 1989s, Kazuo Yamamoto were developing a
hollow fiber for immersed MBR system.

2.0 Introduction
MBR is an advance technology in wastewater treatment. The technology was used a simple material
filtration called membrane. In conventional activated sludge (CAS) process, separation solid and
liquid can be carried out using settling process in secondary clarifier/sedimentation tank
meanwhile MBR technology is using filtration material. The functional process maybe same but in
term of the effluent quality significantly better than CAS system.

2.1 Factor influencing the MBR application

1. Legislation demands high water quality
2. Local of water scarcity
3. Decreasing of investment cost
4. Environmental impact
5. Public political acceptance

2.2 Advantages of MBR system

a. Use small footprint
b. Produce good effluent quality
c. Low sludge production produces low cost of disposal sludge
d. Low operating cost due to long span life of membrane

3.0 Design and Operation for MBR system

In MBR designing process, the pre-treatment should be provided in order to reduce interfere
flow, system performance also protect membrane from breakable. The second step involve
biological treatment process to eliminate organics, nitrification, and denitrification by microbes’
activities. Then, the activated sludge with help of MBR membrane for separating solid and liquid.
Lastly, the effluent was discharge to the outlet by mechanical pump. Figure 9 show MBR process
against CAS process.

Figure 9: MBR vs CAS process.

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3.1 Membrane Technology
There are three (3) subsection in this part explained in subsection 3.1.1, 3.1.2 and 3.1.3.

3.1.1 Membrane separation process

Membrane is a simple material that applied in water and wastewater treatment allow water
and dissolved matter to pass through it while solid separation occurs by surface filtration. The
degree of selectivity depends on the membrane pore size. The coarse membrane was
microfiltration (MF) able to reject particulate matter. The most selective membrane is reverse
osmosis (RO) which it able to reject single charge ions. Figure 1 show a membrane separation
process based on range of pore size.

Figure 1: Membrane Separation process based on range of pore size.

The range of pore size is relatively small for minimize fouling tendency and low permeability.
The permeability increases with increasing density of pores, implying that a high material
porosity is desirable. In MEMSTAR’s product, suggestion pore size for wastewater treatment
are: -
i. Microfiltration (MF): separate suspended solid from water (>0.05µm)
ii. Ultrafiltration (UF): Separate suspended solid & viruses (0.02-0.05µm, typical:
0.04µm)

3.1.2 Membrane Material

There are mainly two different types of membrane material, these being polymeric and
ceramic.
Polymers material was the most used in wastewater treatment due to cost effective than
ceramic. For polymer, only limited number of materials are suitable act as membrane
separation which are: -
i. Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)
ii. Polyethylsulphone (PES)
iii. Polypropylene (PP)
iv. Polyethylene (PE)

Properties of selective membrane material: -

i. high surface porosity and narrow pore size distribution to provide a high through of
desired permeate also as selective degree of rejection as possible.
ii. Strong resistance to thermal and chemical attack such as extreme of temperature, pH
or oxidation concentration that normally arise when membrane is chemical cleaning.

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 For MEMSTAR product, PVDF material is more preferable than the other material due to high
strength, antifouling, high flux of fluid, long life span serviceability and easy cleaning. The life
span for MEMSTAR’S PVDF material almost has been used about 9 years serviceability
without replacement for one membrane modules.
3.1.3 Membrane Geometry
It is important for determine the overall process performance. The properties of the
membrane:
i. No dead zone where sludge can accumulate
ii. High degree of turbulence at the feed side to enhance mass transfer and reduce
fouling.
iii. Mechanical, chemical and thermal stability
iv. Low transmembrane pressure (TMP)
v. Ease of installation and membrane replacement
vi. Modularization
vii. Ease of cleaning

There are three configurations that suited to MBR technologies: -

a. Plate-and-Frame/ Flat Sheet (FS) membrane  high cost, medium turbulence but non-
backwashing
b. Tubular membrane very high cost, very good turbulence but non-backwashing
c. The Hollow-Fibre (HF) membrane very low cost, very low turbulence, backwashing

Figure 2: Plan view of flow through the membrane configuration as (a) HF, (b) FS and (c) Tabular

(a) (b)

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 (c)
Figure 3: Schematics view of flow through the membrane configuration as (a) FS, (b) Tabular and
(c) HF

For MEMSTAR’s product, the membrane fiber was used hollow fiber type. The core hollow fiber
membrane was fabricated into two types: -
i. Non-solvent Induced Phase Separation (NIPS)
ii. Thermal Induced Phase Separation (TIPS)
Both of fibers membrane was fabricate to meet the properties as shown in Figure 4.

Mechanical strength
 high mechanical strength, low
fiber breakable
 Caustic tolerance: resistance to
chemical agents across full pH
range
Caustic Chlorine  Chlorine tolerance: good chlorine
tolerance tolerance resistance

Figure 4: Concept of fiber technology

Table 1 below show the characteristics of NIPS and TIPS: -

Fibers Tensile strength React to NaOH Hydrophilic Price Advantages

NIPS 2-3MPa Low High Cheaper Fouling
TIPS (<1mm) 8-16MPa Excellent High resistance
Remarks: hydrophilic is substances tend to dissolve in and mix with water

3.2 Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)Technology

3.2.1 MBR membrane configuration

Two different situation of membrane configuration in the activated sludge process: -

i. The submerged membrane configuration

The membrane is submerged in the mixed liquor and permeate is sucked mechanically pump
or by gravity flow. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show a submerged membrane inside the aeration
tank and in a separate filtration tank respectively. Due to the fouling potential of the mixed

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 liquor, the membrane needs some fouling control. This is usually can be accomplished by an
air scouring at the membrane surface using a coarse bubble aeration system that generates a
cross flow at the membrane surface.

Figure 5: Submerged membrane inside aeration tank

Figure 6: Submerged membrane in an external filtration tank

For MEMSTAR product, submerged membrane module has two type which called Pressurized
Modules and Submerged Modules. Pressurized module was applied for Chemical Membrane
Filtration (CMF) system while Submerged modules was applied for Membrane Bioreactor
(MBR) and Membrane Chemical Reactor (MCF) system.

ii. The Side-stream membrane configuration

MLSS is pumped through the membrane module side-stream system typically use tubular
membrane. Fouling is controlled by a well flow velocity but unfortunately, due to fouling
control by aeration or by pumping the MLSS through the membrane resulting in a higher
energy demand.

Figure 7: side-stream membrane

3.2.2 MBR Operating and Maintenance

The basic principle of MBR process separate MLSS into two (2) phase: -
i. Particle-free/Permeate Phase -Filtrate effluent
ii. Concentration Phase – biomass return sludge which remains in the bioreactor

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 Figure 8: schematics of operating of membrane bioreactor (MBR)

MBR operating process contain eight (8) subsystems: -

 Feeding and sludge recirculation system
 Filtration System
 Vacuum system
 Air scouring system
 Backwashing system
 Maintenance cleaning system
 Recovery cleaning system
 Waste discharge system
 Feeding and Sludge recirculation system

3.2.2.1 MBR operating process

- Used subsystem of Filtration cycle, air scouring and vacuum system.

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Figure 9: Schematic process of filtration cycle, air scouring and vacuum system.

The procedures of the filtration system: -

i. Feed the influent by pressure
ii. Supply air in the bioreactor tank for produce air scour by coarse bubble diffuser
iii. Suction the permeate effluent from the membrane using mechanical pump
iv. Effluent is discharge to the outlet

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 3.2.2.2 Maintenance Cleaning (MC)
Used subsystem of Filtration cycle, air scouring, vacuum and backwashing system.
Act as regular cleaning to remove membrane fouling and keep the permeability loss
with a given range.
Estimation Time period about 30-40min form cleaning completed.

Figure 10: Schematics of Maintenance Cleaning system using chemical backwashing

The procedure of maintenance cleaning: -

Filtration
a. Feed the influent by pressure
b. Supply air in the bioreactor tank for produce air scour by
coarse bubble diffuser
c. Suction the permeate effluent from the membrane using
mechanical pump
Backwashing d. Effluent is discharge to the outlet

 Inject Sodium (Sodium Hypochlorite, NaClO ) into the membrane

 Soak about 1- 2min
Air scouring

Supply air in the bioreactor tank for producing air scouring by coarse
bubble diffuser

Filtration Suction the permeate effluent from the membrane using mechanical
pump and discharge to the outlet

3.2.2.3 Recovery Cleaning (RC)

- Typical chemical substances used: nitric acid and sodium hypochlorite, NACIO
- Cleaning carried out about twice per years or once of every 6 months.
- Estimation time period about 7-8 hours form cleaning completed.
(However, the cleaning frequency as well as types of chemicals and their concentration
depend strongly on the wastewater composition, the membrane and module type.)

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 Figure 11: Schematic of Recovery Cleaning Process.

i. Cleaning procedure using Sodium hypochlorite, NaClO:-

Drain out sewage

Inject NaCIO

The membrane soak about 3min

Air scouring

Drain out

ii. Cleaning procedure using acid: -

Inject acid (0.1% @ 500ppm concentration)

Soak

Air scouring

Drain

Permeate the filtrate effluent

4.0 Membrane fouling and resistance
Fouling is sludge blockage in the membrane fibers result in reduction of membrane permeability. It
is caused by the deposition of biosolid, colloidal species, macromolecular species on the membrane
surface thus lead to a flux and decline membrane permeability. The factors may be able to measure
the overall membrane fouling in MBR: -

i. Biomass Characteristics
- the higher concentration of MLSS

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 - the particle distribution of biosolids
- bulk characteristics such as viscosity and hydrophobicity

ii. Membrane resistance, R

- Pore size and shape
- Surface characteristics (eg; - surface topography, porosity of membrane)
- Module geometry and dimensions

iii. Operating conditions

- Pressure
- Air-scouring/cross-flow velocity
- Cleaning – back-washing, physical cleaning, chemical cleaning, cleaning intervals

9.1 Operational Fouling Control

The fouling control can be measures include: -
a. Increasing the Shear
- Enhance air scouring for the submerged module. The shear velocity can be increase by
applying a higher airflow.
- Increase the sludge flow velocity for side-stream module
b. Back-washing of the Membrane
- Cyclical back-washing with permeate effluent. It can range from few minutes to several
hours. But, the longer back-washing with less frequent are more efficient than more
frequent but short back-flushes
c. Modified the Mixed Liquor
- Adjust Sludge Retention Time (SRT) or addition of chemical substance.
d. Physical or Chemical Cleaning

Typically, the Transmembrane pressure (TMP) able to reduces the productivity of fouling by
increasing TMP. Unfortunately, increasing of TMP may increase the cost of membrane maintenance
and operational.

10.0 Guideline for MBR design and operation

10.1 Fine Screening equipment
- Opening <2mm but recommended 0.5-1mm
- Ultra-fine screen should be designed to minimize disturbance to membrane
filtration
10.2 Dissolve Oxygen, DO
- 4-8 mg/L, max 8-10 mg/L
- Perforated or mess type
10.3 Sludge Age
- SRT: 12-30days
- MLSS: 6,000-8,000mg/L
10.4 Sludge recirculation
- Recommend 4-5Q

11.0 Conclusion
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) is an advance system in wastewater treatment. MBR system was
used simple filtration material called membrane that act as separation of solid and liquid. The
first step involves the biological treatment of wastewater using micro-organisms. The
elimination of organics, nitrification, and denitrification are due to microbes’ activities. The

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activated sludge from treated wastewater is achieved with the help of membranes as against
gravity separation in the conventional activated sludge (CAS) process. Microfiltration or
Ultrafiltration membranes are
used in different modules and configuration. Compared to the CAS, the MBR produces a
significantly better effluent quality as it removes all suspended, colloidal solids and bacteria
including attached virus or absorbed compounds. Plus, the MBR process can be operated at
much higher mixes-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentrations so the higher volumetric
loads as feasible, resulting in small footprint also there no need for as secondary sedimentation
(clarifier) tanks.

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