Mass and Heat Transfer Coefficients in a Thermophilic Membrane Distillation Bioreactor

The mass and heat transfer mechanisms of the membrane distillation bioreactor (MDBR) system used for hospital wastewater treatment were determined. The initial flux and balance flux of the system were determined. The total mass transfer resistance calculated for the system increased by 72 % when the system reached equilibrium. Considering the temperature polarization coefficient, it is clear that the system was controlled by mass resistance. The membrane distillation bioreactor is considered an innovative wastewater treatment process integrating the membrane distillation system with a bioreactor. The heat and mass transfer coefficients of such bioreactor treating raw research hospital wastewater were calculated by using the experimental data obtained from the system. The system proved to be controlled by mass resistance.