REPORT OF MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR SYSTEM(MBR)

FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

TABLE OF CONTENT

ITEM DESCRIPTION PAGE

 PART 1: FUNDAMENTAL MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR SYSTEM FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

1.0 Introduction
2.0 Basic Principle of the Membrane Bioreactor Process
2.1 Membrane Material for MBRs
1.0 Introduction
2.2 Type of membrane module
2.3 Integrating of Membrane Module in the Process
The MBR 2.4technology
Membranewas usedand
Fouling theCleaning
combination of activated sludge process with biomass
separation2.4.1
by membrane
Operationalfiltration. The first step involves the biological treatment of
Fouling Control
wastewater2.4.2using micro-organisms.
Membrane cleaning The elimination of organics, nitrification, and
denitrification are due to microbes’ activities and require as adequate process design to
3.0 Comparison of MBR and CAS processes
stimulate the microorganisms to do the required job. The activated sludge from treated
4.0 Advantage
wastewater and Disadvantage
is achieved with the help of of
application
membranesMBRas against gravity separation in the
conventional
5.0 activated
MBR Design sludge (CAS)
Consideration andprocess. Microfiltration or Ultrafiltration membranes
operation
are used in different modules and configuration. Compared to the CAS, the MBR produces a
6.0 Conclusion
significantly better effluent quality as it removes all suspended, colloidal solids and bacteria
including
7.0 attached virus
Experience or absorbed
opinion with MBRcompounds.
Technology Plus, the MBR process can be operated at
much higher mixes-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentrations so the higher
PART 2: MEMSTAR MEMBRANE PRODUCT
volumetric loads as feasible, resulting in small footprint also there no need for as secondary
1.0 Introduction
sedimentation (clarifier) tanks.
2.0 Membrane Manufacture Technology
3.0 Comparison between MEMSTAR membrane product
2.0 Basic Principle of the Membrane Bioreactor Process
4.0 Submerged Membrane Filtration System
In the MBR
3.1 Filtration
process, the
Cycle
membrane
process separate MLSS into two (2) phase: -
i. Particle-free/Permeate
3.2 Maintenance Cleaning Phase
(MC)-Filtrate effluent
ii. Concentration
3.3 Recovery Cleaning
Phase – biomass
(RC) return sludge which remains in the bioreactor
5.0 Guideline for MBR design and operation
5.1 Membrane Fouling and resistance formula
5.2 Permeability
5.3 Membrane Resistance
5.4 Consideration for Pre-treatment System Design
Consideration for Biological System Design
Consideration for Mebrane System Design

Figure 1: Operating principle of membrane bioreactor (MBR)

There are several aspects need to be considered for application membrane technology in
biological wastewater treatment: -
a. Membrane material and modules
b. Configuration of MBR
 c. Membrane fouling phenomena
d. Adaption of the design of the activated sludge process as well as pre-treatment

2.1 Membrane materials for MBRs

The selective membrane material shall be considered to allow water and dissolved matter
to pass through it while solid separation occurs by sieving or surface filtration. In the
membrane manufacture, several parameters need to be considered in order to produce a
material of reasonable mechanical strength which can maintain high through of desired
permeate with a high degree selectivity. The required parameters such as: -
a. Membrane 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. Thus, the membrane pore size was categorized
into two part so-called: -
i. Microfiltration (MF) range of 0.02-0.06µm – able to remove colloidal and
bacteria. (refer to Figure 1)
ii. Ultrafiltration (UF) range generally between 0.02 and 0.1µm – able to remove
colloidal, viruses and endotoxins pyrogens (refer to Figure 1)

Figure 2: Capability rejection of the different membrane separation process.

b. Resistance of the extreme thermal and chemical attack

 The membrane must resistance high chemical concentration especially acid or oxidation
agent were used during membrane. The addition of chemical concentration in
wastewater may increase the temperature of fluid ranging 2-45֯

c. Resistance to PH and oxidation concentration

PH of wastewater will be low(acidic) when adding chemical substances during
membrane cleaning.
Practically, Polymeric and Ceramic material are the best selective membrane material
that comply those parameters. Membrane manufacture primarily concern the
production of a porous material. The cost of the membrane is not only depending the
raw material but also the ease with pores of the desires size or size distribution can be
introduced. Table 1 show a different number of polymers and ceramic which different
characteristics. However, polymers (PVDF) membrane material were the most
preferred in wastewater industry due to cost effective and able to resistance thermal,
chemical substance and good chlorine resistance.
Table 1: Characteristics of Polymer and Ceramic Membrane Material. (source: Adapted
from Stephenson et al., 2000)
Membrane Material Characteristics
Polymer material
Polypropylene (PP) Chemically resistant but High hydrophobic unless
surface treated
Polyethylene (PE) Chemically resistant
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Very hydrophobic, excellent organic resistance,
excellent chemical stability and sterilizable but
expensive.
Polyethersuphone (PES) Excellent chemical resistance, hydrophilic
Polyvinyledenefluoride (PVDF) Excellent chemical resistance, good chlorine
resistance
Polysuphone (PS) Steam sterilizable, PH resistant, solvent cast but
poor resistance to hydrocarbon
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
Ceramic material
Alumina/ aluminium oxide, Al2O3
Silicon Carbon, SIC
Titanium Dioxide / titania, TIO2
Zorconium dioxide/ zirconia

2.2 Membrane Modules

For the implementation of the membranes into the wastewater treatment process, there
are fixed in elements and housed in technical units, so-called modules. Membrane modules
should exhibit the following properties: -
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
As all requirement above is satisfies, three (3) types of modules were established for
wastewater treatment applications as per following: -
a. Hollow-fiber membrane
- The flow is from outside to inside.
- The diameter of the hollow-fiber can range from a few hundred micrometer up to a
few millimeters. For example, hollow-fiber Memstar product is --------µm
- The fixed support may be provided either on both sides or one side only.
- The fibers are bundled in racks and may be aligned vertically or horizontally
- The modules can be installed either horizontally or vertically.

Figure 2: Schematic view of a Hollow-fiber membrane

b. Planar/Plate-Frame membrane
- The membrane was arranged in parallel and support by a plate
 Figure 3: Schematic view of a vertically arranged of Plate membrane

c. Tabular membrane
- Operated in the inside-out mode.
- The diameter is from more than 20mm up to 5mm.
- Tabular module can be installed up to 6m length.

Figure 4: Schematic view of a tabular membrane module.

2.3 Integrating of Membrane Module in the Process

Generally, there are two options of integrating the membrane into the activated sludge
process: -
i. The submerged configuration
 The membrane is submerged in the mixed liquor and permeate is sucked
mechanically pump or by gravity flow. Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a submerged
membrane system inside the aeration tank and in a separate filtration tank. Due to
the fouling potential of the mixed liquor, the membrane needs some fouling control.
This is usually can be accomplished by an air scour at the membrane surface using a
coarse bubble aeration system that generates a cross flow at the membrane surface.

Figure 5: Submerged membrane system inside aeration tank

Figure 6: Submerged membrane system in an external filtration tank

ii. The Side-stream configuration

In the side-stream configuration, the MLSS is pumped through the membrane

module side-stream system typically use tubular membrane. Fouling is controlled
by a well flow velocity in the range 1 – 4 m/s generating a turbulent crossflow.
Unfortunately, due to fouling control by aeration or by pumping the MLSS through
the tubes, the use of membrane results in a higher energy demand than
conventional sedimentation process for sludge-water separation.

Figure 7: side-stream system.

2.4 Membrane Fouling and Cleaning

Fouling is sludge blockage in the membrane fibers result in reduction of membrane

permeability. Membrane fouling may be physical or biological. 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. 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. Thus, the following factors may be able to measure the overall fouling
behavior in MBRs: -

i. Biomass Characteristics affecting the fouling behavior

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

ii. Membrane and module characteristics affecting the fouling behavior

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

iii. Operating conditions affecting the fouling behavior

- Hydraulics (the most significantly factor of being flux)
- Hydrodynamics – cross-flow velocity or aeration rate, flow rate etc
- Cleaning – back-washing, physical cleaning, chemical cleaning, cleaning intervals

2.5 Operational Fouling Control

The fouling control can be measures include: -
a. Reducing the Flux
-
b. 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

c. 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 (eg., 200s filtration, 15 s back-flush).

d. Modified the Mixed Liquor

- Adjust Sludge Retention Time (SRT) or addition of chemical substance. Eg. Ferric
chloride, aluminum sulfate

e. Physical or Chemical Cleaning

2.6 Membrane Cleaning

 Beside of operational fouling control, the membrane also requires regular cleaning to
remove membrane fouling and keep the permeability loss with a given range. Overall,
there are two main cleaning methods that can be distinguished such as mechanical
cleaning and chemical cleaning.

For chemical cleaning, the following two cleaning method can be applied: -
a. Chemical Back-washing method for in-situ cleaning
A back-washing with chemical such as acids or oxidizing agents is typically activated
in an automatic control mode, for example daily or weekly cleaning routine. This
method can be categorized into two part: -
i. Cleaning the membrane inside of tank (submerge)
The following is the procedure back-washing for the submerge membranes: -

ii. Pumping chemical through pipes (side-stream).

Typical chemical used for the membrane cleaning such as nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric
acid or citric acid to remove scaling or oxidizing agents such as sodium hypochlorite.
However, the cleaning frequency as well as types of chemicals and their concentration
depend strongly on the wastewater composition, the membrane and module type. For
minimize environmental harmful, the use of chlorinated product must be prevented to
avoid corrode the membrane resulting short life span of the membrane.

3.0 Comparison of MBR and CAS system

MBR System Description CAS system

Sludge characteristic A big floc
Mixed-liquor Suspended
Solid (MLSS) and viscosity
Surplus Sludge Production
Effluent Quality
Sludge Retention Time
(SRT)
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)