AnMBR MANUAL

State-of-the-art: to investigate membrane fouling in a lab-scale anaerobic submerged membrane bioreactor.

Description of the reactor system and operation The reactor has a total volume of ~18 L (cylindric body of 17 L and quadratic lid box of 0.85 L) and is both liquid and gas tight. It consists of a double cylindric wall in which the heating water (35C) is circulated (entering at (1)) by a thermostat (2). The reactor is filled with 15 L anaerobic sludge. The submerged membranes (3x0.016 m2) are hung in the sludge and normally (i.e. 15 L liquid inside) are fully covered by the liquid. On side of the cylindric wall, a transparent loop is built (3) in what the actual liquid level can be checked (the blue line indicates 15 L of liquid). The submerged membranes are fixed onto a stainless steel support which is connected to a rod (4). This rod can be magnetically vibrated (in order to control membrane fouling) by a magnetic engine (5) built together with the reactor lid (6). The magnetic engine is controlled by a magnetic driver (+ computer-generated signals) connected through an electric wire (7). During continuous operation, wastewater feed (8) (3 lines max.) is pumped into the reactor by a peristaltic multichannel pump (9). The feed should previously be flushed by N2 in order to avoid entering dissolved O2 into the anaerobic reactor. The sludge and the entering feed can be mixed by a magnetic stirrer (10). During the operation, biogas is produced which is ready to leave the reactor through an open gas line (11) ensuring no increase of pressure in the reactor. The permeate (12) (3 lines) leaves the reactor through the membranes by the peristaltic pump (9). Through the reactor valve (13), sludge sample can be taken or the sludge can be (partly) removed from the reactor. In order to clean/change the membranes, the next steps should be followed: 1) stop the system (pump, stirrer, vibration) 2) remove the lid (6) by screwing it off 3) place the lid with the hanging membranes e.g. into a bucket 4) cover the reactor with a gas tight seal 5) clean/change the membranes* 6) place the lid back on the reactor top at the same position as it was (without rotating it blue line on side shows the appropriate position) *changing the membranes can be more comfortable by removing also the top quadratic cover (14) and separating the membrane support from the lid by screwing them off.

Safety and others Thermostat (distilled) water level should always be checked. Insufficient water level can ruin the thermostat that may cause a shortcut. The magnetic stirrer should be disconnected from electricity when not used. Liquid/gas leaks on the reactor should regularly be checked. The produced biogas (contains CH4!), although with relatively low quantities, should be appropriately led out from the lab (e.g., through a fume hood). Sludge/liquid level in the reactor should always be appropriate (at around the blue line on the loop 10 mm). The magnetic vibration should not be run below 40 Hz, otherwise the vibration amplitude gets too high and the vibrating rod hits the the wall of the quadratic lid box inside. Inlet/outlet flows should be regularly checked. Avoid too big differences between the inlet and outlet flows that causes relatively fast drop/rise of liquid level in the reactor. For the appropriate growth of anaerobic bacteria, microelements should also be added to the feed in case of using a simulated wastewater. In the feed bottle, significant COD reduction may be occurred due to bacterial activity suggesting a feed storage less than 3 days. Magnetic stirrer speed should not exceed 300 rpm, otherwise the bar in the reactor moves from the center (normal agitation can be confirmed after hearing the bar spinning). In this case, the bar can be brought back to center position by a strong magnet (while the magnetic stirrer is removed under the reactor). Treat gently the breakable glued parts of the PVC reactor (e.g., connectors).