The present study has aimed to quantify the role of pore blocking and cake layer in a laboratory scale hollow fibre membrane module in submerged configuration. The membrane reactor (MBR) was fed with raw wastewater, only screened with a 2-mm sieve, collected from the Palermo WWTP. The MBR was characterised by an operating volume of 190 L and equipped with an aeration system located on the bottom of the reactor. The MBR operated for 65 days. The permeate was extracted by imposing a constant flux through the membrane (21 Lh−1m−2). The results confirm the importance of pore blocking control during start-up. In particular, it provides a rapid irreversible fouling that takes place at the beginning of the filtration process, before the deposition mechanism. Therefore, low suspended solids concentration in the initial phase causes a fast irreversible fouling. This circumstance creates the need for more frequent chemical cleaning after start-up without inoculum. Finally, the results underline that the cake has a mainly reversible feature.
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Research Article|
April 01 2007
The role of fouling mechanisms in a membrane bioreactor Available to Purchase
G. Di Bella;
*Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica ed Applicazioni Ambientali dell'Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 90146, Palermo, Italy
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F. Durante;
F. Durante
*Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica ed Applicazioni Ambientali dell'Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 90146, Palermo, Italy
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M. Torregrossa;
M. Torregrossa
*Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica ed Applicazioni Ambientali dell'Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 90146, Palermo, Italy
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G. Viviani;
G. Viviani
*Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica ed Applicazioni Ambientali dell'Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 90146, Palermo, Italy
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P. Mercurio;
P. Mercurio
**AMAP S.p.A., Via Volturno 2, Palermo, Italy
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A. Cicala
A. Cicala
**AMAP S.p.A., Via Volturno 2, Palermo, Italy
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Water Sci Technol (2007) 55 (8-9): 455–464.
Citation
G. Di Bella, F. Durante, M. Torregrossa, G. Viviani, P. Mercurio, A. Cicala; The role of fouling mechanisms in a membrane bioreactor. Water Sci Technol 1 April 2007; 55 (8-9): 455–464. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2007.290
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