Fouling-resistant biofilter of an anaerobic electrochemical membrane reactor

Qilin Yu and Yaobin Zhang ()
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Qilin Yu: Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology
Yaobin Zhang: Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Membrane fouling is a considerable challenge for the stable operation of anaerobic membrane-based bioreactors. Membrane used as a cathode is a common measure to retard fouling growth in anaerobic electrochemical membrane bioreactors (AnEMBR), which; however, cannot avoid the fouling growth. Here we report a strategy using the membrane as an anode to resist membrane fouling in an AnEMBR. Although aggravating in the initial stage, the fouling on the anode membrane is gradually alleviated by the anode oxidation with enriching exoelectrogens to finally achieve a dynamic equilibrium between fouling growth and decomposition to maintain the operation stable. A mesh-like biofilter layer composed of cells with less extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) is formed on the membrane surface to lower the trans-membrane pressure and promote the interception of the anode membrane. The membrane has high electron storage and transfer capacities to accelerate the oxidation of the intercepted fouling materials, especially, the redundant EPSs of the biofilter layer.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12838-7

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