Membrane-aerated biofilms for high rate biotreatment: performance appraisal, engineering principles, scale-up, and development requirements.
Diffusion of the electron acceptor is the rate controlling step in virtually all biofilm reactors employed for aerobic wastewater treatment. The membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is a technology that can deliver oxygen at high rates and transfer efficiencies, thereby enhancing the biofilm activity. This paper provides a comparative performance rate analysis of the MABR in terms of its application for carbonaceous pollutant removal, nitrification/denitrification and xenobiotic biotreatment. We also describe the mechanisms influencing process performance in the MABR and the inter-relationships between these factors. The challenges involved in scaling-up the process are discussed with recommendations for prioritization of research needs.
Syron
Eoin
E
School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Casey
Eoin
E
D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D004738:Engineering; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*