Membrane-coupled anaerobic digestion utilizes a concept of simultaneous sludge digestion and thickening. Membranes may successfully be applied to eliminate the need for thickening polymers and avoid their likely inhibitory effect on anaerobic biomass. A 550 L completely mixed anaerobic digester was operated under mesophilic conditions (35 °C). Two ultrafiltration membrane systems were evaluated for their potential in membrane-coupled anaerobic digestion: vibrating and cross flow. A volatile solids reduction of 59% was achieved at an average mixed liquor suspended solids concentration of 1.8%. The substrate utilization rate was 1.3 d−1. The vibrating membrane operated at a flux of 1.6–2.0 m3/m2-d and the tubular membrane fluxes in the range 3.4–3.6 m3/m2-d.

Anaerobic digestion, membranes, sludge stabilization, solids reduction, ultrafiltration
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© IWA Publishing 2005
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