Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) for Food Processing Wastewater Treatment: Post-Construction Start-Up and 1-Year of Continuous Operation

An AnMBR system was started-up and commissioned at Ken’s Foods’ production plant in Lebanon, Indiana, in summer 2019. The system features a 2.2 MG (8,300 m3) precast concrete CSTR with geomembrane cover system, two covered membrane tanks, biogas flare and utilization, as well as a process control building. The membrane modules are Kubota flat-sheet membranes composed of chlorinated polyethylene and a nominal pore size of 0.2 µm. Even through large day-to-day loading variances, the system has been able to consistently meet discharge requirements, maintaining an average COD removal efficiency of 99%, with an average effluent BOD concentration of 30 mg/L, an average effluent TSS concentration of 12 mg/L, and an average effluent FOG concentration of 5 mg/L. Membranes show no signs of fouling after one year of continuous filtration.