(56e) Wastewater Treatment Using Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors with Electrolytic Regeneration (AMBER)

The constant release of different kinds of wastewater into the environment has significantly influenced the freshwater resources worldwide. Innovative recycling technologies using biological, chemical, and physical systems have been introduced with the aim of protecting humans, wildlife, and the environment. Our proposed system, called an anaerobic membrane bioreactor with electrolyte regeneration (AMBER), is a smart, stand-alone, self-sustained technology for wastewater treatment. The objectives of the AMBER development are to upgrade the cost and performance of the existing technologies and to meet the requirements of the standards in reusing and recycling water. AMBER is a bio-electrochemical process that is expected to be simultaneously efficient in water recovery, biogas augmentation, and fouling mitigation. In this work, we identified the wastewater-treatment performance and appraised the filtration behavior of AMBER. Considering the unique properties of AMBER hybrid system, circular economy goals, and ensuring sustainable wastewater management according to the 6th goal of sustainable development concept, in this investigation we have focused on this technology to achieve a novel package system. The objectives were to enhance the stability and efficiency of the anaerobic membrane bioreactor. The integration of the electrolytic process with the ABR (EABR) using a pair of iron electrodes enhanced the removal of contaminants in the ABR while successfully maintained pH in the optimum range for anaerobic digestion (6:8 to 7:2). The results showed that the AMBER configuration considerably enhanced permeate flux, as it reduced the deposition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the surface of the nanocomposite membrane, leading to a reduction in membrane fouling.