Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment: A literature review


Kanafin Y.N. Kanafina D. Malamis S. Katsou E. Inglezakis V.J. Poulopoulos S.G. Arkhangelsky E.
December 2021MDPI

Membranes
2021#11Issue 12

Currently, there is growing scientific interest in the development of more economic, efficient and environmentally friendly municipal wastewater treatment technologies. Laboratory and pilot-scale surveys have revealed that the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is a promising alternative for municipal wastewater treatment. Anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology combines the advantages of anaerobic processes and membrane technology. Membranes retain colloidal and suspended solids and provide complete solid–liquid separation. The slow-growing anaerobic microorganisms in the bioreactor degrade the soluble organic matter, producing biogas. The low amount of produced sludge and the production of biogas makes AnMBRs favorable over conventional biological treatment technologies. However, the AnMBR is not yet fully mature and challenging issues remain. This work focuses on fundamental aspects of AnMBRs in the treatment of municipal wastewater. The important parameters for AnMBR operation, such as pH, temperature, alkalinity, volatile fatty acids, organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time and solids retention time, are discussed. Moreover, through a comprehensive literature survey of recent applications from 2009 to 2021, the current state of AnMBR technology is assessed and its limitations are highlighted. Finally, the need for further laboratory, pilot-and full-scale research is addressed.

Anaerobic digestion , Membrane bioreactor , Wastewater treatment

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, 15780, Greece
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
Chemical and Process Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1XJ, United Kingdom
Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan

Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg)
Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Chemical and Process Engineering Department
Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg)

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026