Aeration and hydrodynamics in submerged membrane bioreactors

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is already a well-developed wastewater treatment process for both municipal and industrial applications. Nonetheless, membrane fouling remains a significant problem for its wider development. In the case of submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBRs), one of the most efficient strategies to limit fouling is the use of a gas/liquid two-phase flow to enhance the mass transfer. However, the effect of aeration still remains incompletely understood. The complexity of flows and of the nature of activated sludge makes a theoretical approach difficult. Aeration is the source of a large part of the operating costs in most industrial scale plants and its optimization is a necessity to make the process really efficient. This paper first deals with hydrodynamics in MBRs, then it reviews the parameters of aeration and their impact on filtration performance. Finally, the effects of aeration mechanisms on biological media are described.