title: Reverse membrane bioreactor: Introduction to a new technology for biofuel production.
abstract: The novel concept of reverse membrane bioreactors (rMBR) introduced in this review is a new membrane-assisted cell retention technique benefiting from the advantageous properties of both conventional MBRs and cell encapsulation techniques to tackle issues in bioconversion and fermentation of complex feeds. The rMBR applies high local cell density and membrane separation of cell/feed to the conventional immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR) set up. Moreover, this new membrane configuration functions on basis of concentration-driven diffusion rather than pressure-driven convection previously used in conventional MBRs. These new features bring along the exceptional ability of rMBRs in aiding complex bioconversion and fermentation feeds containing high concentrations of inhibitory compounds, a variety of sugar sources and high suspended solid content. In the current review, the similarities and differences between the rMBR and conventional MBRs and cell encapsulation regarding advantages, disadvantages, principles and applications for biofuel production are presented and compared. Moreover, the potential of rMBRs in bioconversion of specific complex substrates of interest such as lignocellulosic hydrolysate is thoroughly studied.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 501 90 Borås, Sweden; The Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Vito NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahboubi
authors.affiliation: Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 501 90 Borås, Sweden.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ylitervo
authors.affiliation: The Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Vito NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Doyen
authors.affiliation: The Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Vito NV, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Wever
authors.affiliation: Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, University of Borås, 501 90 Borås, Sweden. Electronic address: mohammad.taherzadeh@hb.se.
authors.forename: Mohammad J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taherzadeh
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D004058:Diffusion; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
keywords: Bioconversion; Biofilm; Diffusion; Fouling; Inhibitory compounds; Membrane bioreactor; Reverse membrane bioreactor; Suspended solid