Investigation of the cold-adapted membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

Membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is an emerging frontrunner in environmental biotechnology that is rapidly gaining recognition for its efficiency and versatility. MABR is an attached growth reactor that uses gas-permeable membranes to perform diffusive aeration at the biofilm's substratum. This creates a counter-diffusional biofilm unique to the MABR. MABRs demonstrated effective nutrient removal performance in low-temperature environments. However, investigations have been sparse on the long-term effects of intense cold exposure. The goal is to investigate the performance and community dynamics of the MABR after long-term cold exposure. A psychrotrophic membrane-aerated biofilm was cultivated by exposing an MABR to approximately 5 degrees Celsius for over seven months. This study can provide valuable insights into the psychrotrophic membrane-aerated biofilm cultivated by long-term cold exposure and contribute to developing more sustainable and cost-effective treatment strategies for facilities in cold-climate regions.