Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polypropylene (PP) were chosen as membrane materials to compare the effects of membrane materials on the start-up time

biomass

performance for nitrogen and carbon removals as well as membrane fouling in membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR)

resulting from their different hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties

surface morphology and biocompatibility. The results showed that the biomass on PVDF and PP membrane fibers were 35.62 g·m-2 and 30.63 g·m-2

respectively. The membrane fouling by microorganism was observed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The surface of PVDF membrane fibers with scaly structure was found

which prevented the pores from being blocked by microorganism on the surface effectively. MABR equipped PVDF membrane fibers achieved COD removal efficiency of above 90% and TN removal efficiency of 78% during 90 days operation

while COD and TN removal efficiencies of MABR occupied with PP membrane fibers were kept 76.5% and 49.1%

respectively

owing to membrane fouling. It was suggested that PVDF membrane fibers should be more suitable for MABR.