1 Introduction to aerobic membrane bioreactors: Current status and recent developments

The aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) process is a wastewater treatment technology that combines suspended growth bioreactor with membrane filtration, which is one of the most successful commercial applications of membrane technology. The membrane acts as a barrier, rejecting solid particles while passing permeate through the membrane. The result is a high-quality permeate with very low suspended solids. This book chapter provides a minireview on the current status and recent developments in aerobic MBRs. Aerobic MBR is a mature technology and has been widely used for both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment for very large-scale plants. The major issue of membrane fouling in aerobic MBRs has been well understood, and effective strategies have been developed and implemented for membrane fouling control in full-scale MBR plants. The capital, operating, and energy costs have continuously decreased with the development of new membrane manufacturing technologies, materials, and processes. New applications of aerobic MBRs include removal of emerging pollutants, sludge thickening, dewatering, and reduction. Future development in aerobic MBRs includes the development of new membrane materials, further reduction of energy consumption, and the development of hybrid aerobic MBR processes for high COD/BOD removal and nutrient recovery.