Effect of solids retention time on membrane fouling in a membrane bioreactor treating municipal wastewater

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of solids retention time (SRT) on membrane fouling rate in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating municipal wastewater. The evaluation was conducted in a membrane bioreactor built in bench scale, with a volume of 15 L, operated for 420 days in the sequential batch regime. During this period, three experimental runs were applied, E-1, E-2 and E-3, in which the solids retention time of 80, 40 and 20 days, respectively, were tested. The results showed that use of 20-days solids retention time resulted in a higher membrane fouling rate (MFR), with value of 1,95 mbar d-1, approximately two times higher than observed in the solids retention time of 80 and 40 days. The higher membrane fouling rate observed was attributed to a higher concentration of soluble microbial products (SMP) in the mixed liquor and to the higher proteins/polysaccharides ratio of the biological flocs in this period. On the other hand, the use of 80-days solids retention time resulted in a lower membrane fouling rate, with a value of 0.82 mbar d-1. However, it was observed in the final period of this experimental run an excessive growth of filamentous bacteria, which was reflected in a deterioration of the mixed liquor filterability and an increase of membrane fouling rate. Overall, the results showed that the 40-days solids retention time resulted in a mixed liquor with lower fouling propensity.