Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Review
Yerkanat N. Kanafin,
Dinara Kanafina,
Simos Malamis,
Evina Katsou,
Vassilis J. Inglezakis,
Stavros G. Poulopoulos,
Elizabeth Arkhangelsky
Affiliations
Yerkanat N. Kanafin
Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Dinara Kanafina
Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Simos Malamis
Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Evina Katsou
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
Vassilis J. Inglezakis
Chemical and Process Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK
Stavros G. Poulopoulos
Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Elizabeth Arkhangelsky
Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Currently, there is growing scientific interest in the development of more economic, efficient and environmentally friendly municipal wastewater treatment technologies. Laboratory and pilot-scale surveys have revealed that the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is a promising alternative for municipal wastewater treatment. Anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology combines the advantages of anaerobic processes and membrane technology. Membranes retain colloidal and suspended solids and provide complete solid–liquid separation. The slow-growing anaerobic microorganisms in the bioreactor degrade the soluble organic matter, producing biogas. The low amount of produced sludge and the production of biogas makes AnMBRs favorable over conventional biological treatment technologies. However, the AnMBR is not yet fully mature and challenging issues remain. This work focuses on fundamental aspects of AnMBRs in the treatment of municipal wastewater. The important parameters for AnMBR operation, such as pH, temperature, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time and solids retention time, are discussed. Moreover, through a comprehensive literature survey of recent applications from 2009 to 2021, the current state of AnMBR technology is assessed and its limitations are highlighted. Finally, the need for further laboratory, pilot- and full-scale research is addressed.
