Large-Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Industrial Wastewater Treatment in China: Technical and Economic Features, Driving Forces, and Perspectives

Jiao Zhang; Kang Xiao; Ziwei Liu; Tingwei Gao; Shuai Liang; Xia Huang

Engineering (Jun 2021)

Large-Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Industrial Wastewater Treatment in China: Technical and Economic Features, Driving Forces, and Perspectives

Jiao Zhang,
Kang Xiao,
Ziwei Liu,
Tingwei Gao,
Shuai Liang,
Xia Huang

Affiliations

Jiao Zhang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Research and Application Center for Membrane Technology, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Kang Xiao: College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Research and Application Center for Membrane Technology, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding authors.
Ziwei Liu: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Tingwei Gao: College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Shuai Liang: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Research and Application Center for Membrane Technology, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xia Huang: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Research and Application Center for Membrane Technology, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 6
pp. 868 – 880

Abstract

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Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been and will continue playing an important role in industrial wastewater treatment and reuse in China. The sustainable development of MBR technology in its mature-application stage requires reciprocal interactions between engineering and research participants. Thus, in this study, a total of 182 large-scale MBR projects treating industrial wastewater (with individual treatment capacities ≥ 5000 m3·d−1) commissioned and under construction from 2003 to 2019 were analyzed comprehensively. Fast growth of the cumulative treatment capacity was observed, with extension to diverse industries, and the super large-scale was enhanced recently. The treatment processes, pollutant removal efficiencies, and actual operational parameters were summarized regarding the particularity of industrial wastewater compared to municipal wastewater. Economic features including the total investment costs of the projects, their total footprint, and their operational energy consumption were analyzed as well. A vigorous MBR market has formed in China with the fast development of membrane elements and engineering suppliers, continuously increasing official oriented projects, and responsive and innovative business modes. MBR technology has been mostly applied in specific economic zones and water-deficient areas, but its widespread use all over China is foreseeable considering the vast future market for industrial wastewater treatment and recycling. The policy–economy and market–technology driving forces revealed that MBR is consistent with the national development demand. According to the survey and analysis, prospective development in both engineering and research aspects of MBR is proposed to maintain its competitive edge.

Published in Engineering

ISSN: 2095-8099 (Print); 2096-0026 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/engineering

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