Methane production in an anaerobic osmotic membrane bioreactor using forward osmosis: Effect of reverse salt flux

Sheng Li; Youngjin Kim; Sherub Phuntsho; Laura Chekli; Ho Kyong Shon; TorOve Leiknes; Noreddine Ghaffour

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.05.044

Methane production in an anaerobic osmotic membrane bioreactor using forward osmosis: Effect of reverse salt flux

Bioresour Technol. 2017 Sep:239:285-293. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.05.044. Epub 2017 May 10.

Authors

Sheng Li¹, Youngjin Kim², Sherub Phuntsho³, Laura Chekli³, Ho Kyong Shon³, TorOve Leiknes¹, Noreddine Ghaffour⁴

Affiliations

¹ King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
² School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Post Box 129, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, 1-5 Ga, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
³ School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Post Box 129, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
⁴ King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: noreddine.ghaffour@kaust.edu.sa.

PMID: 28531853
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.05.044

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of reverse salt flux (RSF) on microbe community and bio-methane production in a simulated fertilizer driven FO-AnMBR system using KCl, KNO₃ and KH₂PO₄ as draw solutes. Results showed that KH₂PO₄ exhibited the lowest RSF in terms of molar concentration 19.1mM/(m².h), while for KCl and KNO₃ it was 32.2 and 120.8mM/(m².h), respectively. Interestingly, bio-methane production displayed an opposite order with KH₂PO₄, followed by KCl and KNO₃. Pyrosequencing results revealed the presence of different bacterial communities among the tested fertilizers. Bacterial community of sludge exposed to KH₂PO₄ was very similar to that of DI-water and KCl. However, results with KNO₃ were different since the denitrifying bacteria were found to have a higher percentage than the sludge with other fertilizers. This study demonstrated that RSF has a negative effect on bio-methane production, probably by influencing the sludge bacterial community via environment modification.

Keywords: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Fertilizer; Forward osmosis; Methane; Pyrosequence; Reverse diffusion.

MeSH terms

Bioreactors*
Membranes, Artificial
Methane
Osmosis
Wastewater
Water Purification*

Substances

Membranes, Artificial
Waste Water
Methane