Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) scale-up from laboratory to pilot-scale for microalgae and primary sludge co-digestion: Biological and filtration assessment

This research work proposes the scale-up evaluation in terms of biological and filtration performance from laboratory to pilot-scale of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) co-digesting raw microalgae and primary sludge. Best operating conditions for this scale-up were energetically and economically assessed based on laboratory results. Economic balance showed 3% higher annual costs when operating a reactor at 100 d solids retention time (SRT) compared to 70 d SRT. Energetic balance showed a 5.5-fold increase in heat demand working at thermophilic temperature comparing to mesophilic. The AnMBR operating conditions were set at 70 d SRT and 35 °C. The pilot-scale and lab-scale co-digester…