Temperature effects on the performance of an anaerobic membrane biorector

Temperature is the one of the most significant parameter which affects the efficiency of the biological reactors. Treatment efficiency is usually higher in anaerobic biological systems operated at high temperatures. Especially, removal of organic matters under mesophilic conditions is much more than according to the psychrophilic conditions. However, heating the anaerobic reactors requires energy and it causes high operating costs.In membrane systems, increasing temperature decreases the viscosity and increase of the flux becomes at high temperatures. Thermophilic systems could be accepted more advantageous because increase of the flux is a preferred situation in membrane operating. However, increase of the temperature can change the anaerobic biological reactor as qualification and quantity.Operating a laboratory scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor at different temperatures and determining how operating temperature affect the system efficiency are the main purpose of this study. A laboratory scale side-stream anaerobic membrane bioreactor was operated under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions for this aim. The model reactor was consisted of an anaerobic bioreactor (UASB) connected to a membrane module (UF). Synthetic wastewater consisted of diluted molasses was used in this study. The anaerobic reactor was operated in two influent COD concentrations as 5,000 and 10,000 milligram per liter at both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Efficiency in the system was examined that considering the COD removal and methane formation parameters. Also, the effects of temperature alterations were determined on flux.