Evaluation of the Long-Term Treatment Performance of a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor for Phenolic Wastewater Treatment

Rudsari, AK, Mousazadehgavan, M, Jouneghani, MS, Ghanbari, R, Jamali, H, Soltani, RDC, Qazi, M and Hashim, K ORCID: 0000-0001-9623-4060 (2025) Evaluation of the Long-Term Treatment Performance of a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor for Phenolic Wastewater Treatment. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 236 (12). ISSN 0049-6979

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Abstract

This study evaluates the long-term performance of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) equipped with a hollow-fiber membrane for the treatment of synthetic industrial wastewater containing 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), a toxic and persistent phenolic compound. Operated continuously for 189 days at 36 ± 1 °C, the system demonstrated high and stable removal efficiencies, achieving a maximum removal of 99.63% for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 99.6% for 2,4-DCP. Following the introduction of 2,4-DCP from day 118, the bioreactor exhibited a temporary decline in removal efficiency due to microbial stress, but quickly recovered, confirming strong microbial acclimation and process robustness. The average COD and 2,4-DCP removal rates were both 91.9%. Turbidity decreased by 63.98%, while total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS) removal efficiencies reached 95% and 94%, respectively. The hollow-fiber membrane module enhanced solid–liquid separation, contributed to fouling resistance, and supported stable trans-membrane pressure (TMP) over the long term. The bioreactor effectively treated varying organic loading rates (0.125–0.798 kg COD/m3·d), showcasing operational flexibility. Compared to conventional anaerobic systems, the SAnMBR presented superior performance without the need for auxiliary carbon sources, highlighting its suitability for high-strength phenolic wastewater.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Submerged membrane bioreactors; 2,4-dichlorophenol wastewater; Hollow fiber membrane; Industrial wastewater treatment; 4004 Chemical Engineering; 40 Engineering; 4011 Environmental Engineering; Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Divisions:	Engineering and Built Environment
Publisher:	Springer
Date of acceptance:	18 July 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	11 September 2026
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2026 09:49
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2026 09:49
DOI or ID number:	10.1007/s11270-025-08401-4
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29392

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