Effects of pharmaceutical micropollutants on the membrane fouling of a submerged MBR treating municipal wastewater: Case of continuous pollution by carbamazepine

摘要: Abstract Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is increasingly used for municipal wastewater treatment and reuse great concerns have been raised to some emerging trace pollutants found in aquatic environment the last decade, notably pharmaceuticals. As a consequence removal of pharmaceutical micropollutants by MBRs has extensively investigated. But there still lack knowledge on effects current presence domestic wastewaters MBR fouling. Among different pharmaceuticals, it was decided focus carbamazepine (CBZ), an anti-epileptic drug, because its occurrence persistency biological processes including MBRs. This paper focuses continuous pollution A introduction CBZ into via feed (about 90 μg L−1 feed) provoked TMP jump. It occurred just 1 day after addition significantly higher increase rate also observed MBR, as compared that before CBZ. indicates stress induced causes more severe membrane Addition shown induce significant concentration proteins supernatant at beginning several days then stabilized original level whereas no change polysaccharides. HPLC-SEC analysis showed decrease 100–1000 kDa protein-like SMPs 10–100 kDa supernatant. Moreover affected sludge microbial activities, slight inhibition 20%) exogenous respiration observed. The increased fouling could be related biomass characteristics quality MBR. study allows suggesting might accumulate inside biocake formed surface during operation play important role jump phenomenon.