Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Engineering application of membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment in China: Current state and future prospect

  • Feature Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

China has been the forerunner of large-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) application. Since the first large-scale MBR (⩾ 10 000 m3·d−1) was put into operation in 2006, the engineering implementation of MBR in China has attained tremendous development. This paper outlines the commercial application of MBR since 2006 and provides a variety of engineering statistical data, covering the fields of municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, and polluted surface water treatment. The total treatment capacity of MBRs reached 1 × 106 m3·d−1 in 2010, and has currently exceeded 4.5 × 106 m3·d−1 with ∼75% of which pertaining to municipal wastewater treatment. The anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic-MBR and its derivative processes have been the most popular in the large-scale municipal application, with the process features and typical ranges of parameters also presented in this paper. For the treatment of various types of industrial wastewater, the configurations of the MBR-based processes are delineated with representative engineering cases. In view of the significance of the cost issue, statistics of capital and operating costs are also provided, including cost structure and energy composition. With continuous stimulation from the environmental stress, political propulsion, and market demand in China, the total treatment capacity is expected to reach 7.5 × 106 m3·d−1 by 2015 and a further expansion of the market is foreseeable in the next five years. However, MBR application is facing several challenges, such as the relatively high energy consumption. Judging MBR features and seeking suitable application areas should be of importance for the long-term development of this technology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Huang X, Xiao K, Shen Y X. Recent advances in membrane bioreactor technology for wastewater treatment in China. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering in China, 2010, 4(3): 245–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. Announcement on the list of national urban sewage treatment facilities published in 2013. 2014. Available online at http://www.zhb.gov.cn/gkml/hbb/bgg/201404/t20140415_270550.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Guo J B, Ma F, Qu Y Y, Li A, Wang L. Systematical strategies for wastewater treatment and the generated wastes and greenhouse gases in China. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2012, 6(2): 271–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Olsson G. Water, energy and food interactions-Challenges and opportunities. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2013, 7(5): 787–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. World Bank Group. World Development Indicators: Freshwater. 2014. Available online at http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/3.5 (accessed July 25, 2014)

    Google Scholar 

  6. General Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. “12th Five-Year Plan” — National construction plan of urban sewage treatment and reuse facilities. 2012. Available online at http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-05/04/content_2129670.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Li W, Hu MZ. An overview of the environmental finance policies in China: retrofitting an integrated mechanism for environmental management. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2014, 8(3): 316–328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Loucks D P, Jia H F. Managing water for life. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2012, 6(2): 255–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Standing Committee of the Sixth National People’s Congress. Water Law of the People’s Republic of China. 2002. Available online at http://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2005-08/31/content_27875.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  10. State Environmental Protection Administration, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. GB 18918-2002. Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2003 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  11. General Administration of Quality Supervision. Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. GB/T 18919-2002. The Reuse of Urban Recycling Water—Classified standard. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2003 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  12. General Administration of Quality Supervision. Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. GB/T 18920-2002. The Reuse of Urban Recycling Water—Water Quality Standard for Urban Miscellaneous Water Consumption. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2003 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  13. General Administration of Quality Supervision. Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. GB/T 18921-2002. The reuse of urban recycling water—Water quality standard for scenic environment use. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2003 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  14. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China. GB/T 19772-2005. The Reuse of Urban Recycling Water—Water Quality Standard for Groundwater Recharge. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2005 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  15. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China. GB/T 19923-2005. The Reuse of Urban Recycling Water—Water Quality Standard for Industrial Uses. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2005 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  16. General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China. GB 20922-2007. The Reuse of Urban Recycling Water—Quality of Farmland Irrigation Water. Beijing: Standards Press of China, 2007 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. HJ 2527-2012. Technical Requirement for Environmental Protection Products—Membrane Bioreactor. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2012 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. HJ 2528-2012. Technical Requirement for Environmental Protection Products—Hollow Fiber Membrane Bio-Reactor Unit. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2012 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  19. China Association for Engineering Construction Standardization. CECS 152:2003. Technical Specification for Application of Integrative Submerged Membrane Bioreactor For Wastewater Treatment. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2003 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. HJ 2010–2011. Technical Specification for Wastewater Treatment by Membrane Biological Process. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2012 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  21. State Council of the People’s Republic of China. “12th Five-Year Plan”—Development plan of energy-saving and environmental protection industry. 2012. Available online at http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-06/29/content_2172913.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. “12th Five-Year Plan”—Development plan of science and technology. 2011. Available online at http://www.most.gov.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/gjkjgh/201107/t20110713_88230.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  23. State Council of the People’s Republic of China. Decision on accelerating the cultivation and development of emerging strategic industries. 2010. Available online at http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2010-10/18/content_1724848.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. “12th Five-Year Plan”—Specific plan for high performance membrane material technology development. 2012. Available online at http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2012-09/06/content_2217994.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. Plan of action for water pollution prevention and control (manuscript). 2014. Available online at http://www.caep.org.cn/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=4014 (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Chu J Y, Wang H, Wang C. Exploring price effects on the residential water conservation technology diffusion process: a case study of Tianjin city. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2013, 7(5): 688–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. Announcement on adjustment of the price for non-residential water use in Beijing. 2014. Available online at http://www.bjpc.gov.cn/ywpd/wjgl/zcfb/201404/t7648760.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform. Announcement on adjustment of the price of reclaimed water in Beijing. 2014. Available online at http://www.bjpc.gov.cn/ywpd/wjgl/zcfb/201404/t7648761.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  29. E20 Environment Platform. Research and Analysis Report for MBR Market in China. 2014 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Judd S, Judd C. The MBR Book: Principles and Applications of Membrane Bioreactors in Water and Wastewater Treatment. 2nd ed. Oxford: Elsevier, 2011

    Google Scholar 

  31. Liang S, Qi G G, Xiao K, Sun J Y, Giannelis E P, Huang X, Elimelech M. Organic fouling behavior of superhydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes functionalized with surface-tailored nanoparticles: implications for organic fouling in membrane bioreactors. Journal of Membrane Science, 2014, 463: 94–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Koros W J, Ma Y H, Shimidzu T. Terminology for membranes and membrane processes. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 1996, 68(7): 1479–1489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Zheng X, Zhou Y F, Chen S H, Zheng H, Zhou C X. Survey of MBR market: trends and perspectives in China. Desalination, 2010, 250(2): 609–612

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Dey P K, Ogunlana S O. Selection and application of risk management tools and techniques for build-operate-transfer projects. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 2004, 104(4): 334–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Zheng X, Wei Y S. Report for Sustainable Development Strategy of China Water Treatment Industry—Membrane Industry. Beijing: China Renmin University Press, 2013 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Yu K C, Huang X. Design and operation of MBR process of water reclamation project. Nonferrous Metals Engineering & Research, 2008, 29(6): 4–8 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Hou W X, Zhang G Y, Zhong T X. The application example in municipal reclaimed water of enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal MBR process. City and Town Water Supply, 2011, 16(S1): 152–155 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Xu R L, Fan Y B, Zhang Q, Wei Y S. Recent progress in the development and application of A2/O-MBRs. Membrane Science and Technology, 2013, 33(6): 111–118 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Cui XW, Xie L, Bi Y, Zhang S F, Yang D H, Shim H J. Study on the nitrogen removal characteristics of inverted A2/O-MBR process to treat low C/N ratio wastewater. Water & Wastewater Engineering, 2012, 38(9): 132–136 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Yang A M, Gan Y P, Chang J, Ai B, Peng Y Z. Process introduction of MBR of Beijing Beixiaohe reclaimed water plant. Membrane Science and Technology, 2011, 31(4): 95–99 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Dong L F, Liu S, Zhou M W, Xue T. Application of MBR technology in three WWTPs in Wuxi. China Water & Wastewater, 2012, 28(4): 20–23 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Jiang L L, Zhang W L, Liang T, Hu B. Study on degradation characteristics of two anoxic A(2A)O-MBR wastewater treatment system. Technology of Water Treatment, 2013, 39(1): 93–96 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Fan X J, Jiang L L, Liu X H. Engineering design of integrated MBR process for municipal wastewater treatment. China Water & Wastewater, 2010, 26(10): 47–50 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Sai S J. Study on application of nitrogen and phosphorus removal process combined with membrane bioreactor in municipal wastewater treatment. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Beijing: Tsinghua University, 2011 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Zhang Y Y, Guo Y M, Liu B, Guo F, Zhang Y N, Zhang Y F, Chen Y M. Application of 3AMBR in the fourth wastewater treatment plant of Kunming. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2013, 7(9): 3409–3414 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. HJ 576-2010. Technical Specifications for Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic Activated Sludge Process. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2011 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Metcalf & Eddy. Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003

    Google Scholar 

  48. Verrecht B, Maere T, Nopens I, Brepols C, Judd S. The cost of a large-scale hollow fibre MBR. Water Research, 2010, 44(18): 5274–5283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Wei W. Analysis of project cost of Guangzhou Jingxi sewage treatment plant. Construction Economy, 2011, 32(10): 42–44 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  50. China Environment Yearbook 2013. Beijing: China Environment Yearbook Press, 2013 (in Chinese)

  51. Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China. Construction standard for municipal sewage treatment engineering projects (revision). 2001. Available online at http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/zcfg/jsbwj_0/jsbwjbzde/200902/t20090211_185716.html (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  52. State Council of the People’s Republic of China. Plan of action for air pollution prevention and control. 2013. Available online at http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2013-09/12/content_2486773.htm (accessed July 25, 2014) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Chen GW, Xu Z L, Cao YM, Shi Y Q. Advanced Development and Industrial Application of Membrane Technology. Beijing: National Defense Industry Press, 2013 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Chen G Z. Application of MBR process in coal chemical industry wastewater treatment. M-Sized Nitrogenous Fertilizer Progress, 2008, 24(1): 24–26 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Zeng Z R, Xu H, Shi L W, He W Y. Engineering application of membrane bioreactor in treatment of landfill leachate. Environmental Protection and Technology, 2013, 19(5): 20–23 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Kuang B H. Debugging and running of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) + reverse osmosis (RO) process for landfill leachate treatment project. Guangdong Chemical Industry, 2012, 39(8): 22–24 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China. HJ 564-2010. Leachate treatment project technical specification of municipal solid waste landfill. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2010 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Kang Xiao, Ying Xu, Shuai Liang, Ting Lei, Jianyu Sun, Xianghua Wen, Chunsheng Chen & Xia Huang

  2. College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Kang Xiao & Hongxun Zhang

  3. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Shuai Liang

Authors
  1. Kang Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ying Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuai Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ting Lei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianyu Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xianghua Wen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hongxun Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Chunsheng Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Xia Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xia Huang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xiao, K., Xu, Y., Liang, S. et al. Engineering application of membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment in China: Current state and future prospect. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 8, 805–819 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-014-0756-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-014-0756-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation