Membrane Fouling and Cleaning in Anaerobic Flat-Sheet Ceramic Membrane Bioreactor for Sewage Treatment

Abstract

In this study, the feasibility of an anaerobic flat-sheet ceramic membrane reactor for sewage treatment was evaluated, and the membrane fouling mechanism and membrane cleaning methods were studied. The results showed that when the transmembrane pressure was greater than 35 kPa, the hydraulic retention time and temperature affected the membrane fouling by causing the microbial metabolism to produce extracellular polymeric substances and soluble microbial products. In addition, the surfaces of the initial, polluted, and cleaned membranes were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and the fouling mechanism of the flat-sheet ceramic membrane was analyzed. With the combination of physical and chemical cleaning, most pollutants on the membrane surface and pores were removed; however, a small amount of pollutants remained in the pores. The results showed that the cleaning methods were effective in controlling membrane fouling.