A filtration model applied to submerged anaerobic MBRs (SAnMBRs)

The aim of this study was to develop a model able to correctly reproduce the filtration process of submerged anaerobic MBRs (SAnMBRs). The proposed model was calibrated and validated in a SAnMBR demonstration plant fitted with industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes. Three suspended components were contemplated in the model: total solids concentration; dry mass of cake on the membrane surface; and dry mass of irreversible fouling on the membrane surface. The model addressed the following physical processes: the build-up and compression of the cake layer during filtration; cake layer removal using biogas sparging to scour the membrane; cake layer removal during back-flushing; and the consolidation of irreversible fouling. The short- and long-term validation of the model resulted in correlation coefficients (R-2) of 0.962 and 0.929, respectively.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO Project CTM2011-28595-C02-01/02) jointly with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which are gratefully acknowledged.Robles Martínez, Á.; Ruano García, MV.; Ribes Bertomeu, J.; Seco Torrecillas, A.; Ferrer, J. (2013). A filtration model applied to submerged anaerobic MBRs (SAnMBRs). Journal of Membrane Science. (444):139-147. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2013.05.021S13914744