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EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR
TECHNOLOGY IN INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Abdurashid Khakberdiev
1st year master’s student at the Karshi State Technical University,
225, 180100, Karshi, Uzbekistan
abdurashid.khakberdiev84@gmail.com
Abstract
.Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology is an emerging wastewater treatment
method that utilizes the advantages of membrane filtration. At the Uzbekistan GTL plant, the
project reuses wastewater for technological purposes by using MBR instead of traditional
treatment, i.e., secondary clarifier, which provides a high level of wastewater treatment. This
analytical article presents a comprehensive literature review on the use of MBR technology for
various industrial wastewaters. Particular attention is paid to information on membrane
selection, its configuration, and practical application of the technology. The literature review
shows that MBR technology is recognized as an effective and economically viable technology
that allows wastewater to be recycled and reused without harmful effects to the environment.
Keywords
: industrial wastewater, bioreactor, ultrafiltration, wastewater treatment, permeate.
Introduction.
Water is a natural resource that is important for public health and should
be protected by reducing the discharge of pollutants into water systems. Domestic and industrial
activities contribute to the discharge of total solids, organic matter, and dissolved solids into
water. Therefore, strict standards must be met to reduce the content of pollutants in wastewater
and to discharge them without harming water resources. Over the past century, as a result of
population growth and industrial expansion, ecosystems essential for human life have been
seriously polluted. Pollution of groundwater and surface water is caused by the discharge of
industrial and domestic wastewater without complete and high-quality treatment. Although
these wastewaters are usually easily biodegradable, their components such as total suspended
solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) load
the ecosystem in the amount of thousands of mg/L [1-5].
Figure 1. Traditional method
(Figure 1) where the activated sludge is then returned to the bioreactor for biological
treatment, instead of the traditional method (Figure 2), where the activated sludge is separated
by secondary sedimentation and then returned to the bioreactor for biological treatment. This
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
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allows for the effective separation of total suspended solids, including activated sludge, high
organic matter, and nutrients, in a small-sized bioreactor that requires little space. Therefore,
MBR technology is becoming the most effective treatment technology due to its advantages.
However, its main disadvantage is that the membranes often become clogged with sludge,
which causes problems in the application of this process [6-8].
Figure 2. MBR (membrane bioreactor) method
MBR technology is a form of the traditional activated sludge process combined with
micro-or ultrafiltration systems. The main advantage of this technology is that it breaks down
pollutants in wastewater and separates the treated water from the mixed sludge by suctioning
water through the small pores of the membranes using suction pumps. Typically, the membrane
pores are between 0.01 and 0.1 micrometers. The bioreactor and membrane module perform the
following main functions: a) in the bioreactor, organic pollutants are decomposed by
microorganisms; b) using the membrane module, microorganisms are separated from the treated
water. Membranes serve as a physical barrier to all suspended solids, bacteria and viruses, and
at the same time ensure the return of activated sludge to the bioreactor. The separation of
organic substances using a membrane is the main difference between MBR technology and
traditional treatment methods, where the efficiency of the final treatment stage does not depend
on the sedimentation properties of the sludge. For information, if filamentous bacteria appear in
the activated sludge in the traditional treatment method, then the activated sludge does not settle
in secondary clarifiers, that is, activated sludge particles pass into the treated water [9-10].
Methodology.
Membrane Selection There are two main types of membrane materials: 1)
polymeric; 2) ceramic.
Metal membrane filters are also available, but their application in MBR technology is
limited. Therefore, the membrane module must be designed in such a way that wastewater can
easily pass through it. Theoretically, any polymer can be used to make a membrane, but only
certain polymers are suitable for use as membranes. These include:
a) Polyethylsulfone (PES)
b) Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
c) Polypropylene (PP)
d) Polyethylene (PE)
commonly used membranes in MBR systems are microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration
(UF). When choosing a membrane, the following are considered: surface area, pore size,
mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, morphology, chemical stability, density, and cost.
Membrane fouling depends on the material and pore size. If the pore size is too large,
the pores will be blocked, and if it is too small, the membrane permeability will decrease. If the
pores are evenly distributed, fouling will decrease. In general, negatively charged membranes
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are less susceptible to fouling because colloidal particles in the wastewater have a negative
charge and repel each other. In addition, hydrophilic membranes are less susceptible to fouling
than hydrophobic membranes.
Result.
Membrane filtration consists of two main parts: an organic component (a
bioreactor that breaks down pollutants) and an MBR device (a module that physically separates
the treated water). MBR systems are mainly divided into two types:
Submerged MBR (submerged MBR)
- membranes are installed directly in the
bioreactor. This system usually uses hollow fiber (tubular) membranes, this type of MBR is
used at the Uzbekistan GTL plant.
External MBR
— membranes are located outside the bioreactor. In a submerged
system, low pressure is used to force water through the membrane or a negative pressure
(vacuum) is created on the permeate (purified water) side. Membrane washing is performed by
backwash or regular cleaning with chemicals. Air diffusers are placed under the membranes to
help keep their surface clean. In addition, mixing and aeration are also carried out through this
system. At the same time, anaerobic and anoxic sections are added, ensuring simultaneous
separation of organics and nutrients.
Figure 3. Submerged submersible MBR system
Table 1. Types of membranes used in submerged MBR systems and their characteristics
No. Type
Membrane
Pore size
(µm)
Purified
wastewater
Source
1
Flat
MF-Polyethylene
0.4
Household
16
2
Hollow fiber
Polyethylene
0.1
Utility
17
3
Hollow fiber
Zeno
0.1
Synthetic
raw
milk
17
4
Hollow fiber
Zeno
0.1
Utility
16
5
Hollow fiber
Polypropylene
0.1
Synthetic, Utility 18
6
Hollow fiber
Hydrophilic
polyethylene
0.1
Utility
18
7
Hollow fiber
Polyethylene
0.1
Household
19
8
Hollow fiber
MF-polyethylene
0.1
Synthetic
20
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9
Hollow fiber
MF
0.1
Utility
10
10
Flat- cell fiber
MF-polyolefin
0.4
Utility
21
11
Hollow fiber
MF-Polyethylene
0.1
Utility
22
12
Plate
MF-polyolefin
0.4
Utility
22
13
Plate and frame /
Hollow fiber
Polysulfone
0.4
Household
23
14
–
Polypropylene, non-
woven
0.5–5
Household
23
Figure 4. Hollow fiber membrane module in a submerged MBR system
Conclusion.
Based on a comprehensive literature review of membrane bioreactor (MBR)
systems for various types of wastewater, the following conclusions were reached: MBR
systems are widely used in industrial wastewater treatment in developed countries and are
capable of effectively removing 95% to 98% of the total pollutant load. The international
demand for membrane filtration technology is growing at an average annual rate of 13.2%
(CAGR). The growth rate of this technology is higher than that of other wastewater treatment
technologies. Compared to the current growth rate, the global market is projected to double in
the next five years.
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
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page 2585
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