Fouling reductions in a membrane bioreactor using an intermittent electric field and cathodic membrane modified by vapor phase polymerized pyrrole

摘要: Abstract We present empirical evidence for a novel fouling control strategy in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Electrically conductive membranes were fabricated by depositing polypyrrole from the vapor phase, which employed as cathodes to induce an electric field laboratory-scale MBR. This eliminated need external cathode previously implemented electro-MBRs. A very small (0.2 V/cm) was then applied using stainless steel mesh anode. To our knowledge, this is one of first reports internalizing MBR wastewater treatment, allowed use low fields. Such configuration substantially increased fluxes, attributed electrophoresis negatively charged foulants counteracting permeation-induced deposition sludge particles and/or extracellular polymeric substances. Incorporating electrocoagulation further improved flux and effluent water quality terms chemical oxygen demand total phosphorous concentrations. It emphasized that results are based on relatively short-term experiments performed under well-controlled conditions bench-scale Hence, longer-term testing more realistic recommended confirm findings determining optimal operating prior possibly extending real-world MBRs.