Process characteristics and energy self-sufficient operation of a low-fouling anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor for up-concentrated municipal wastewater treatment

Up-concentration of municipal wastewater using physico-chemical methods can effectively enrich organic matter, facilitating subsequent anaerobic digestion of up-concentrated wastewater for enhanced methanogenesis at reduced energy consumption. An anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) assisted with biogas-sparging was developed to treat up-concentrated municipal wastewater, focusing on the effects of operating temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT) as well as COD mass balance and energy balance. The COD removal stabilized at about 98 % over the experimental period, while gaseous and dissolved methane contributed 43–49 % and 2–3 % to the influent COD reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The formed dynamic membrane exists mainly as a heterogeneous cake layer with a uneven distribution feature, ensuring the stable effluent quality. Without adopting any physico-chemical cleaning, the transmembrane pressure (TMP) maintained at a low range (2.7 to 14.67 kPa) with the average TMP increasing rate of 0.089 kPa/d showing a long-term low-fouling operation. Increasing the concentration ratio, the methane production rate decreased from 0.18 to 0.15 L CH4/gCOD likely due to the accumulation of particulate organics. Microbial community analysis indicated the predominant methanogenic pathway shifted from hydrogenotrophic to acetoclastic methanogenesis in response to the temperature change. Net energy balance (0.003–0.600 kWh/m3) can be achieved only under room temperature (25 °C) rather than mesophilic conditions (36 °C). [Display omitted] •Low-fouling anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) was established.•AnDMBR showed satisfactory organics removal, methanogenesis and permeability.•High methane content (~84 %) and low dissolved methane favor biogas utilization.•Temperature change affected methanogenic pathway predominated by acetoclastic.•Net energy balance achieved via coupling up-concentration with anaerobic digestion.