title: Recent developments in anaerobic membrane reactors.
abstract: Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) have recently evolved from aerobic MBRs, with the membrane either external or submerged within the reactor, and can achieve high COD removals (~98%) at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) as low as 3 h. Since membranes stop biomass being washed out, they can enhance performance with inhibitory substrates, at psychrophilic/thermophilic temperatures, and enable nitrogen removal via Anammox. Fouling is important, but addition of activated carbon or resins/precipitants can remove soluble microbial products (SMPs)/colloids and enhance flux. Due to their low energy use and solids production, and solids free effluent, they can enhance nutrient and water recycling. Nevertheless, more work is needed to: compare fouling between aerobic and anaerobic systems; determine how reactor operation influences fouling; evaluate the effect of different additives on membrane fouling; determine whether nitrogen removal can be incorporated into AnMBRs; recover methane solubility from low temperatures effluents; and, establish sound mass and energy balances.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BY, UK. d.stuckey@ic.ac.uk
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Stuckey
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D057219:Biofouling; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D016062:Porosity; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater