MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR (MBR) FOR INDUSTRIAL USED WATER TREATMENT – ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT PERFORMANCE AND MEMBRANE DURABILITY

Abstract

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is a popular technology for the treatment and reclamation of used water, having progressed significantly in terms of performance and cost-efficiency especially for polymeric MBRs. However, the advancement mainly thrived in the treatment of domestic and municipal wastewater. The complex nature and high fluctuations in industrial wastewater characteristics make it more difficult for treatment compared to other types of wastewater, posing a challenge to the performance, durability and integrity of the polymeric membrane. Hence, this study aims to investigate the feasibility of using a pilot-scale MBR system to treat industrial used water by assessing the treatment performance and membrane durability. The system operated at steady-state for 10 months with a 5-day chemical spiking test using Tetrahydrofuran, comparing the treatment performance against MBRs treating other types of wastewater. The potting module and membrane fibres were also analysed to assess the durability and integrity of the polymeric membrane used.