Simultaneous Minimization of Membrane Area & Energy Consumption in a Combined Membrane/Biological Process

This paper details how a highly efficient membrane/biological process, IMAS (Integrated Membrane Activated Sludge), has been developed to dramatically reduce membrane fouling rates without additional energy input or an increase in the amount of membrane area. Both energy usage and membrane area are significantly reduced compared to a conventional MBR. IMAS creates the low membrane fouling environment via particle management, primarily controlling the composition and size of suspended particles, rather than the particles settleability characteristics which affect concentration. The low fouling nature of IMAS generated suspended particles allows the transmembrane pressure drop to remain consistently low, even when challenged with high peak flow periods and varying influent turbidities.