Characteristics of a self-forming dynamic membrane coupled with a bioreactor for municipal wastewater treatment

A self-forming dynamic membrane (SFDM) method that used the biomass layer formed on a coarse mesh to effect solid-liquid separation was proposed. A 100-microm Dacron mesh material was used to make the SFDM modules. A SFDM coupled bioreactor (SFDMBR) was tested to treat actual municipal wastewater, and the performance and mechanisms of the SFDM were investigated. The SFDMBR worked by gravity filtration, and the water head drop was generally <5 cm. The effluent suspended solid concentrations were undetectable in most cases, and the COD and NH3 N removal efficiencies averaged 84.2% and 98.03%, respectively. An aeration in situ was adequate for cleaning the clogged modules, and the SFDM was readily and quickly re-formed. The biomass layer of the SFDM consisted of a cake layer and a gel layer. The gel layer had structures like conventional membranes and acted the key role in the SFDM. The permeability of the used mesh attached to the gel layer could be improved because the gel layer made the filtration surface more hydrophilic.