The (in)significance of apparent viscosity in full-scale municipal membrane bioreactors

Ten pilot and full-scale municipal membrane bioreactor (MBR) plants throughout Europe were investigated during the period 2007-2008 using the Delft Filtration Characterisation method. Next to information on filterability the data also contain the necessary information to determine the apparent viscosity of activated sludge. The aim of this study was to quantify variations in the apparent viscosity of activated sludge in pilot and full-scale municipal MBR plants and correlate them with membrane performance. A statistical analysis was carried out in order to quantify the significance of the correlations between apparent viscosity and activated sludge characteristics. The main factor influencing activated sludge's apparent viscosity was found to be total suspended solids. Temperature was found not to have a direct impact on apparent viscosity within the range of temperatures of the pilot and full-scale municipal MBR plants studied (9.7-27.4 degrees C). In terms of the reversible fouling potential and membrane performance, activated sludge filter ability and MBR plant membrane permeability were not statistically affected by activated sludge's apparent viscosity variations. Therefore, even if apparent viscosity plays a major role in terms of oxygen transfer efficiency, it is not relevant when optimising membrane fouling control and membrane performance of current, full-scale municipal MBR applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.