The fate of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in a micro-aerated anaerobic membrane bioreactor and the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in the permeate

This study investigates the effects, conversions, and resistance induction, following the addition of 150 μg·L⁻¹of two antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP), in a laboratory-scale micro-aerated anaerobic membrane bioreactor (MA-AnMBR). TMP and SMX were removed at 97 and 86%, indicating that micro-aeration did not...

Chemical characterization and anaerobic treatment of bitumen fume condensate using a membrane bioreactor

Bitumen fume condensate (BFC) is a hazardous wastewater generated at asphalt reclamation and production sites. BFC contains a wide variety of potentially toxic organic pollutants that negatively affect anaerobic processes. In this study, we chemically characterized BFC produced at an industrial site and evaluated its degradation under...

Optimising the Flux Enhancer Dosing Strategy in a Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor by Mathematical Modelling

Flux enhancers (FEs) have been successfully applied for fouling mitigation in membrane bioreactors. However, more research is needed to compare and optimise different dosing strategies to improve the filtration performance, while minimising the use of FEs and preventing overdosing. Therefore, the goal of this research is to develop an...

Degradation of p-cresol, resorcinol, and phenol in anaerobic membrane bioreactors under saline conditions

Treating petrochemical wastewater is a challenge for conventional anaerobic reactors. One example is coal gasification wastewater that, besides its salinity, is rich in toxic and inhibitory aromatics, such as phenol, cresols, and resorcinol. Studies have shown that phenol and p-cresol share the same degradation intermediates, whereas...

Syntrophic acetate oxidation having a key role in thermophilic phenol conversion in anaerobic membrane bioreactor under saline conditions

Phenol conversion under saline thermophilic anaerobic conditions requires the development and sustenance of a highly specialized microbial community. In the present research, an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) fed with an influent containing 0.5 g·L⁻¹ phenol and 6.5 gNa⁺·L⁻¹ was operated at 55 °C for 300...

Effect of sludge characteristics on optimal required dosage of flux enhancer in anaerobic membrane bioreactors

Fouling is a major challenge for the economic feasibility and applicability of membrane bioreactors. Several strategies have been proposed for fouling control, and among them, addition of flux enhancers (FE) have shown promising results. Previous research revealed a high variability of the required optimal dosage of FE for different types of...

Effects of large salinity fluctuations on an anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating phenolic wastewater

High salinity is becoming more common in industrial process water and final effluents, particularly when striving to close water loops. There is limited knowledge on the anaerobic treatment of chemical wastewaters characterized by distinct salinity fluctuations. This study investigates the high and fluctuating salinity effects on the...

Anaerobic Conversion of Saline Phenol-Containing Wastewater Under Thermophilic Conditions in a Membrane Bioreactor

Closing water loops in chemical industries result in hot and highly saline residual streams, often characterized by high strength and the presence of refractory or toxic compounds. These streams are attractive for anaerobic technologies, provided the chemical compounds are biodegradable. However, under such harsh conditions, effective biomass...

Fouling mitigation by cationic polymer addition into a pilot‐scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor fed with blackwater

Cationic polymers have proven to be suitable flux enhancers (FEs) in large‐scale aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs), whereas in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) research is scarce, and so far, only done at lab‐scale. Results from MBRs cannot be directly translated to AnMBRs because the extent and nature of membrane fouling under...

Comparative performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating phenolic wastewater: Overcoming high salinity

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) offer an attractive option for treating industrial wastewaters under extreme conditions that might hamper granulation, biomass retention and reduce biological activity. This study assesses the long-term performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) and an AnMBR treating highly saline...

Identification of the methanogenesis inhibition mechanism using comparative analysis of mathematical models

The application of cationic polymers to enhance membrane fluxes in anaerobic membrane bioreactors has been proposed by several authors. However, literature shows contradictory results on the influence of those chemicals on the biological activity. In this research, we studied the effect of a cationic polymer on the production of methane from...

Impact of long-term salinity exposure in anaerobic membrane bioreactors treating phenolic wastewater: Performance robustness and endured microbial community

Industrial wastewaters are becoming increasingly associated with extreme conditions such as the presence of refractory compounds and high salinity that adversely affect biomass retention or reduce biological activity. Hence, this study evaluated the impact of long-term salinity increase to 20 gNa⁺.L⁻¹ on the...

Temperature susceptibility of a mesophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating saline phenol-containing wastewater

This study examined the temperature susceptibility of a continuous-flow lab-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) to temperature shifts from 35 °C to 55 °C and its bioconversion robustness treating synthetic phenolic wastewater at 16 gNa^+.L⁻¹. During the experiment, the mesophilic reactor was subjected to stepwise...