Review of effective tools for monitoring the performance of membrane bioreactors

Abstract

The production of high quality wastewater after treatment plants using a membrane bioreactor (MBR) probably requires less control than traditional processes of activated sludge. However, the use of MBR leads to additional problems associated with the activated sludge filtration, the formation of a sediment layer on the surface of the membrane and membrane fouling. Operation engineers require simple tools for controlling and monitoring the operation of treatment plants that can provide timely information about the biological state of the activated sludge and the filterability of the waste fluid, as well as the risks of membrane contamination. To this end, effective means of monitoring MBR and methods for determining biological activity are considered. For a broader characterization of the wastewater composition, the use of total nitrogen and total carbon analyzers is considered, which have significant advantages over the analysis of chemical and biological oxygen consumption (COD, BOD).These tools can be used regularly to ensure timely intervention and more stable monitoring of the operation of MBR systems. © 2019 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.