A mini review on challenges of anaerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment plants

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the current state of co-digestion applications using Anaerobic membrane bioreactors in municipal wastewater treatment plants, along with a review of their environmental and economic implications. The transition from conventional energy practices to renewable energy is crucial for ensuring energy security and addressing climate change. Wastewater treatment plants contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and are large energy consumers. By using energy-saving technology like anaerobic digestion, wastewater treatment plants can increase their energy efficiency. However, the majority of wastewater treatment plants currently in operation use sewage sludge in conventional anaerobic digesters, which results in a limited output of biogas. The low biogas output associated with mono-digestion has been effectively addressed by co-digestion. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors have also surfaced as a viable substitute for conventional anaerobic digesters.