Anaerobic membrane bioreactor for waste water treatment: present state of the art

Abstract Recent times have showed that membrane bioreactors (MBRs) is the ideal technology for wastewater treatment, and hence it is exponentially used in many industries because of its specific characteristics that allows it to meet the strict standards with quality guidelines for final discharge. A high influent quality which is another aspect that attributes to its preference, a lower ecological footprint and lower sludge production. The scarcity of freshwater is increasing rapidly in different countries of the world. Various problems like salinity intrusion, heavy metal injection, nutrient eutrophication, etc. are hampering the quality of fresh water. The MBR technology has a great potential in resolving these issues as is evident from recent developments in the technology, which includes cost reduction and efficient purification. The use of MBR technology in industrial wastewater treatment is a big asset. Other advantages include compact modules, lower aeration tank volume, better sludge disposal, faster process, etc. High strength wastewater can be successfully treated by using MBRs, particularly under anaerobic condition. The present chapters review the performance of anaerobic MBR (AnMBR) in treating high strength industrial wastewater. The scope covers the operation, constraints, and mitigation of the system in general views. It includes the construction, type of membrane used in AnMBR, fouling, and other bottlenecks in this current chapter. Further, the physicochemical parameters affecting the performance of AnMBR technology has been discussed.