The membrane fouling characteristics of MBRs with different aerobic granular sludges at high flux.

This experimental work investigated the property of membrane fouling for different sludges at high flux 20 L/(m(2)h). The MBR with good aerobic granular sludge performed the longest operation time 61 days, and TMP rose up in a steady overall rate, while only 10, 14 and 19 days for bulking, flocculent and small granular sludge, respectively, which clearly demonstrated the good and complete aerobic granules greatly retarded the membrane fouling. The pore blocking resistance 76.21% was the key fouling factor for aerobic granules, but the cake resistance 61.23% or 79.02% was the main factor for flocculent or bulking sludge. The difference in EPS composition of membrane foulants between granules MBR and flocculent sludge MBR led to the different behaviour of fouling. Aerobic granules were quite stable during operation. These results suggested MBR with aerobic granules might be operated at high flux, which was very valuable for practical application.