Filtration of biological sludge by immersed hollow-fiber membranes: influence of initial permeability choice of operating conditions

Recent progress in membrane technology, combined with increasing concern about environment protection, led industrialists and researchers to the development of advanced treatments for domestic wastewater. Membrane bioreactor technology seems to be promising. This study is performed in the context of a regional program for design and optimization of membrane bioreactors for domestic water reuse. We focused on the management of membrane fouling by alternative period of filtration, backflushing, or static state. Moreover, we show how the membrane initial permeability is important in such systems. The experiments were performed on sludge.