10 MBR modeling review articles
The list is presented in reverse chronological order without preference. It was compiled by Simon Judd in August 2024, and may be updated in future as new papers are published.
Modeling is a critically important part of process technology development, design, implementation and monitoring. There are now a number of commercial computer-based design aids, as well as process control packages, which are based on the modeling of aspects of water and wastewater treatment processes. It stands to reason, then, that process modeling – and the modeling of MBRs specifically – is a key area research.
It's therefore surprising that a search of the SCOPUS database over the past six years for publications focused on modelling of MBR processes reveals only 11 review articles, although there are hundreds of technical articles on the subject published over the same period. Of these 11 reviews, all but two have focused on the modeling of fouling or foulant generation.
Two of the articles published in 2021 (Hamedi et al, Shi et al) review model developments generally, both process biological and fouling, and include the use of machine learning and artificial neural networks. Other articles reviewing fouling modeling specifically include:
- The prediction of soluble microbial product (SMP) and extracellular polymeric species (EPS) generation through a consideration of the role of different bacterial groups (Mannina et al, 2023)
- The use of the resistance-in-series approach in determining membrane permeability (Di Bella & Di Trapani, 2019)
The remaining two reviews have concerned the modeling of (a) N2O emissions (Li et al, 2022), and (b) virus rejection (Zhu et al, 2021). Although fouling is not the primary focus of these two papers, both encompass membrane fouling to an extent; for example, the Zhu et al article includes cake layer formation since this layer contributes to virus retention by the MBR.
In terms of the methodology and/or application, subjects include:
- computational fluid dynamics (Mushtaq et al, 2024; Tsibranska et al, 2019),
- machine learning (Frontistis et al, 2023: this group have authored two 2023 reviews concerning the use of artifical intelligence in MBR process modeling), and
- anaerobic processes (Robles et al, 2018).
Interestingly, the most recent review dedicated specifically to the development of the biochemical/biokinetic models representing the governing process biology of an MBR, appears to date all the way back to 2010 (Fenu et al). This perhaps reflects the maturity of the activated sludge biological process models (typically pre-fixed “ASM”), which provide a mathematical representation of the process biochemistry and biokinetics and form the basis of commercial design platforms. There are many technical papers demonstrating the robustness of these models.
- Selected review papers:
Abstract
A review of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies, predominantly published over the past decade, in Membrane bioreactors (MBRs). These CFD simulations of MBR hydrodynamics have been used to analyse the fluid properties and thereby assess the impact on membrane permeability.
© The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) 2023.Full Reference
Mushtaq M.U., Bibi M., Mehmood R., Amin M., Sanaullah K., & Iqbal A. (2024). Fluid dynamics technique in membrane bioreactor systems. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 31(2), 641-661.
Abstract
A review the implementation of machine learning (ML) algorithms for the prediction of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems, thereby enhancing process control and optimisation. Key ML algorithms such as artificial neural networks (ANNs), support vector machines (SVMs), random forest, and reinforcement learning (RL) are discussed, with an emphasis on their potential and limitations in MBR applications.
© 2023 by the authors.Full Reference
Frontistis Z., Lykogiannis G., & Sarmpanis A. (2023). Machine learning implementation in membrane bioreactor systems: progress, challenges, and future perspectives: a review. Environments 10(7), 127.
Abstract
A review of the current state-of-the-art of the modelling of biokinetics as applied to MBRs, focusing on the production and utilisation of soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), known to be key membrane foulants. New conceptual approaches focus on the role of various bacterial groups in the formation and degradation of SMP and EPS.
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd.Full Reference
Mannina G., Ni B.-J., Makinia J., Harmand J., Alliet M., Brepols C., Ruano M.V., Robles A., Heran M., Gulhan H., Rodriguez-Roda I., & Comas J. (2023). Biological processes modelling for MBR systems: A review of the state-of-the-art focusing on SMP and EPS. Water Research, 242, 120275.
Abstract
A review of recent advances in the modeling of N2O emissions in MBRs. Whilst the extended activated sludge models (ASMs) can predict general trends in MBR nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, simulations usually deviate from measured values. Future directions for the development and improvement of models for more accurate emission predictions are proposed.
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd.Full Reference
Li Z., Yang X., Chen H., Du M., & Ok Y.S. (2022). Modeling nitrous oxide emissions in membrane bioreactors: Advancements, challenges and perspectives, Science of the Total Environment, 806, 151394.
Abstract
An overview of virus removal process by MBRs with reference to the modeling of the process dynamics and removal mechanisms. Future studies encompassing the inherent uncertainty and nonlinearity of the complex removal process are proposed to improve the accuracy of MBR virus removal determination.
© 2020Full Reference
Zhu Y., Chen R., Li Y.-Y., & Sano D. (2021). Virus removal by membrane bioreactors: a review of mechanism investigation and modeling efforts. Water Research, 188, 116522.
Abstract
A review of the techniques available for predicting MBR membrane fouling. The review identifies the problems associated with predicting fouling status using artificial neural networks and mathematical models, summarises the current state of fouling prediction techniques, and considered trends in their development.
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).Full Reference
Shi Y., Wang Z., Du X., Gong B., Jegatheesan V., & Haq I.U. (2021). Recent advances in the prediction of fouling in membrane bioreactors. Membranes, 11(6) 381.
Abstract
A review including an outline of the histrorical development of biological process modelling (the Activated sludge models, starting from ASM1 in 1987), applied to activated sludge-based processes and including MBRs. Developments in the incorporation of membrane fouling through quantifying soluble microbial products (SMP), first proposed in 1989, are discussed along with the evolution of the resistance-in-series (RIS) model. The challenges/limitations of the available models are identified and future work on MBR modeling and optimisation recommended.
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd.Full Reference
Hamedi H., Mohammadzadeh O., Rasouli S., & Zendehboudi S. (2021). A critical review of biomass kinetics and membrane filtration models for membrane bioreactor systems. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(6), 106406.
Abstract
An overview of modeling the fouling in immersed MBRs with reference to the challenges of model validation, either by real system measurements at different scales or by analysis of the model outputs. The review is focused on the current state of research efforts employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling techniques.
© 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2018.Full Reference
Tsibranska I., Vlaev S., & Tylkowski B. (2019). The problem of fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors - Model validation and experimental evidence. Physical Sciences Reviews, 3(1), 143.
Abstract
A review of the resistance-in-series model as appled to MBRs, and the prediction of the cake layer hydraulic resistance. The review encompasses both the simple models evaluating the cake layer resistance to filtration and the impact of physical cleaning operations.
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Full Reference
Di Bella G., & Di Trapani D. (2019). A brief review on the resistance-in-series model in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Membranes 9(2), 24.
Abstract
A review of modeling and control of AnMBR processes. It is noted that, while anaerobic biological process modelling is generally mature, there has been less progress in the integration of membrane performance (including fouling) with the biological process.
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd.Full Reference
Robles Á., Ruano M.V., Charfi A., Lesage G., Heran M., Harmand J., Seco A., Steyer J.-P., Batstone D.J., Kim J., & Ferrer J. (2018). A review on anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) focused on modelling and control aspects. Bioresource Technology, 270, 612-626.
Simon Judd has over 35 years’ post-doctorate experience in all aspects of water and wastewater treatment technology, both in academic and industrial R&D. He has (co-)authored six book titles and over 200 peer-reviewed publications in water and wastewater treatment.