Removal of micropollutants from municipal wastewater by membrane bioreactors: Conventional membrane versus dynamic membrane

In this study, fate of micropollutants was investigated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) having dynamic membrane (DM) and ultrafiltration (UF) membrane for the treatment of raw municipal wastewater. Removal efficiencies of different micropollutants including sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, caffeine and acetaminophen were assessed. A commercial hollow fiber UF membrane was used in parallel with a DM that was formed on a low-cost hollow fiber support material, made of polyester. MBR was operated at a flux of 10 L/m2·h. High total suspended solids (>99%) and chemical oxygen demand (>91%) removal efficiencies were achieved with each membrane. Besides, high removal efficiencies of micropollutants (>68.3->99.7%) were achieved. Morphological analyses were conducted for each membrane in order to get insight to the cake (dynamic) layer that was accumulated on the membrane. DM technology provides an effective alternative to the conventional membrane systems for micropollutant removal from municipal wastewater. •Hollow fiber dynamic membrane (DM) and a commercial ultrafiltration membrane (UF) were compared.•The two membranes were operated at a flux of 10 L/m2·h in the same reactor.•Similar micropollutant removal efficiencies were obtained with both membranes.•Higher transmembrane pressure was observed for DM, because of dynamic layer formation.