Anaerobic membrane bioreactor for the treatment of high-strength waste/wastewater: A critical review and update

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) which integrates membrane filtration with anaerobic process, achieves high COD removal (∼95%) with short hydraulic retention time, offering significant advantages for efficient energy and resource recovery. This review focuses on AnMBRs application in various high-strength waste/wastewater, including industrial wastewater, landfill leachate, food waste, and waste activated sludge, highlighting the advantages it offers in energy production and degradation of complex contaminants. While membrane fouling remains a persistent challenge, emerging strategies such as vibratory shear enhanced process, the addition of fluidizing carriers, and the application of biological quorum quenching, have shown considerable promises in mitigating membrane fouling. The performance of these strategies is then analyzed in terms of membrane fouling control, biogas production, and potential advantages compared with conventional methods. Furthermore, this review provides an in-depth analysis of innovative AnMBR configurations, namely anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR), anaerobic electrochemical membrane bioreactor (AnEMBR), anaerobic vibrating membrane bioreactor (AnVMBR), and anaerobic osmotic membrane bioreactor (AnOMBR). Critical evaluations of these configurations are conducted, focusing on their potential to alleviate membrane fouling and enhance pollutants removal. Nevertheless, more work is needed to (1) explore broader applications, (2) develop new membrane materials targeting anaerobic process, (3) achieve more efficient fouling control and pollutants removal by operating parameters optimization, as well as (4) conduct comprehensive life cycle assessments.