Entrapped Biomass in Membrane Bioreactor for the Treatment of High-Saline Pharmaceutical Wastewater

A novel bio-entrapped salt marsh sediment membrane reactor (BESMSMR) was investigated for organic removal performance and membrane fouling behaviour for the treatment of hypersaline pharmaceutical wastewater. The BESMSMR was compared with a suspended growth membrane bioreactor (MBR), a salt marsh sediment membrane bioreactor (SMSMBR) at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 60 h. The BESMSMBR demonstrated better removal efficiency of TCOD than the SMSMBR due to the BESMSMBR could offer maximum nutrients to microbial on the inner and outer parts of bio-carriers. Higher TN removal efficiency was observed on the BESMSMBR because the diffusion limitation of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the inner part of the bio-carrier which could activate the denitrification process and improve the TN removal rate. Membrane fouling was reduced in the BESMSMBR with less requirement of chemical cleaning cycle. The BESMSMR offers effective organic removal treatment for the high-salinity pharmaceutical wastewater and reduces membrane fouling.