Effect of sludge retention time on membrane bio-fouling intensity in a submerged membrane bioreactor

The submerged membrane bioreactor (sMBR) is being increasingly applied for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. This paper examines the role of sludge retention time (SRT), an important operating parameter of the MBR as it affects the biological characteristics of the sludge and therefore influences membrane fouling. Well controlled runs were carried out at short SRT (10days) and moderate SRT (30days) in a 30 L submerged MBR equipped with KUBOTA flat-sheet membranes. At steady operation, the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) stabilized at approximately 5-6 g/L and 8.5-10 g/L for SRT 10 and 30days respectively. The DGGE profiles suggested a shift in the dominant bacterial community with the prolonged SRT. The soluble microbial products (SMP) were 9.3 mg/L and 5.4 mg/L at the SRTs of 10days and 30days respectively. The total amount of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) extracted from the floc and the supernatant was approximately constant at the two SRTs under the same organic loading rate. However, the polysaccharide concentration in the supernatant was about 100% higher for the SRT of 10days than that for 30days. The viscosity of the biomass increased with the prolonged SRT, while the estimated average air induced water velocity was similar for the two SRTs. The results of flux stepping tests showed that the membrane fouling rate (dTMP/dt) at SRT 10days was always higher than that at 30days at each flux step. Similarly, long term experimental runs at a constant flux of 20 L/m(2) (.) h clearly showed more severe membrane fouling for the SRT of 10days than that at 30days. This implies that fouling is more influenced by the concentration of SMP and Polysaccharides than the MLSS.