There is a need for efficient control of membrane fouling in dynamic membrane bioreactors (DMBRs)

but little is known about the phenomenon of membrane fouling and the influence of polymeric membrane materials on membrane fouling in DMBRsIn this study

the influence of several polymeric membrane materials on membrane fouling in DMBRs was investigated on the basis of results of a series of experiments using artificial domestic sewageFour different polymers

polyethylene (PE) non-woven

polypropylene (PP) non-woven

PE mesh and polyamide(PA) mesh were examined and the degree of fouling in each filter was monitoredAlso

the analysis of the foulants in each membrane material was performedThe results demonstrated that nonwoven material was superior to mesh in terms of prevention of irreversible fouling in DMBRs used for treatment of domestic sewageThe four membrane materialsdegrees of fouling are in descending order:PA mesh

PE mesh

PP non-woven

PE non-wovenThe compositions of foulants causing irreversible fouling differed considerably

depending on the membrane polymeric materialsThe results suggested that extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in organic matter on the surface of the materials had higher affinities with membrane resistance than other fractions and consequently caused greater irreversible foulingThe EPS contents in the irreversible layer had significant correlation with membrane resistanceWhile both protein and polysaccharide contents in the irreversible layer had correlation with membrane resistanceThe influence of proteins was more obvious than polysaccharides.