investigation of ceramic membrane fouling in mbr: a comparison of side-stream and submerged membrane

Objective: membrane bioreactor (mbr) systems are widely used for wastewater treatment, but membrane fouling remains a major challenge. this study aims to compare the fouling behavior and filtration performance of ceramic membranes in two operating modes, such as side-stream and submerged. method: the impact of physical and chemical cleaning on fouling removal and filtration performance was evaluated. key parameters such as fouling rates, extracellular polymeric substances (eps) concentrations, and chemical oxygen demand (cod) removal efficiency were measured. fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ftir) was used to identify fouling components on the membrane surface. results: submerged mbrs exhibited higher total fouling (93.6%) compared to side-stream mbrs (82.3%), with reversible fouling rates of 50.9% and 56.2%, and irreversible fouling rates of 42.7% and 26.3%, respectively. eps levels decreased from 255 mg/gvss to 120 in submerged mbrs and 65 in side-stream mbrs. cod removal efficiency was higher for the side-stream mbr (88%) compared to the submerged mbr (82%). ftir analysis revealed fouling components such as humic acid, polysaccharides, halides, and alkyl halides on the membrane cake layer, contributing to pore blockage and cake formation. conclusion: the study demonstrates that side-stream mbrs outperform submerged mbrs in reducing fouling and enhancing filtration performance, highlighting the importance of configuration and cleaning strategies in optimizing ceramic membrane applications for wastewater treatment.