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Optimization of biogas generation plants with tubular membranes

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Berghof MembranesThink Outside the Box

Berghof Membrane Technology GmbH,

part of the Berghof Group, is the

leading manufacturer of tubular

membranes for the filtration and

separation of process streams and

wastewater for industrial applications.

Berghof Membranes

The Leader in Tubular Membranes

1,500 +

Installations

50 + Years of

Experience

MBRRO

Concentrate

Energy

Reduction

Wastewater

Recycling

Reduced

External

Water

Reuse of

Valuable

Materials

AnMBR

Berghof Membrane Technology GmbH part of the

Berghof Group, is the leading manufacturer of tubular

membranes for the filtration and separation of process

streams and wastewater in a variety of industries.

Biogas Plants

Anaerobic Membrane Biorreactor (AnMBR) for

high-strenght and high-solid wastewaters (food and

beverage, dairy, ethanol, distilleries, vinasses)

Digestate treatment:

• MBR

• Direct Filtration

External Filtration System

Feed Membrane Membrane surface Flux Permeate flowrate Energy Measures

TSS Diameter Material Module Skid Average Skid Average Maximum skid

g/l mm m2 l/m2.h m3/h kWh/m3 L*W*H

AnMBR 20-308 mm PVDF

PVDF CR

53.4 374-74820-55 7.5-41.0 1.8-4

10.5*2.0*2.4MBR 10-25 55-65 20.0-48.0 0.5-0.8

Direct Filtration 0.3-10 5 mm 67.2 470-941 75-100 35.0-94.0 0.3-0.5

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR)

Anaerobic membrane

bioreactor (AnMBR) combines

anaerobic digestion with

membrane filtration.

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR)

• B-SMART® external filtration system coupled to simple CSRT digester

• Higher Organic Loading Rate (OLR), 6-10 kg

COD/m3.day, respecting conventional CSTR digester

• Uncoupled hydraulic and solids retention times with

complete solids retention and controlled sludge age.

• Suitable for highly concentrated organic wastewater

streams with COD concentrations in excess of

15g/l up to 250g/l

• The process is more tolerant to TSS and FOG than

granular anaerobic systems and thus provides

simplified pre-treatment requirements.

Advantages of AnMBR

• No need granular sludge. Very short star-up time and less operational

problems. Robust process

• Greater tolerance of TSS, FOG and salinity. Simpler pre-treatment.

• Superior quality effluent. Complete SST removal and tipically >98%

COD removal. Some cases even direct application of RO after the

AnMBR is possible.

• No need for post-treatment or lower requirements. Smaller footprint.

• Higher biogas production, up to 25%

• Excellent solution for high-strenght and high-solid wastewaters

(Food and Beverage, Dairy, Ethanol, distilleries, vinasses,…

Advantages of AnMBR

Anaerobic

reactor

Wastewater UF permeate

AnMBR

Operational Conditions

Anaerobic Digester

MLSS 20 g/L (standard)

OLR 6-10 kg COD/m3.day

Berghof B-SMART®

Flux 20-30 Lmh

Crossflow velocity 1-2 m/s

Energy demand 1,8-4 kW/m3

AnMBR

Configuration

Containerized UF system

Anaerobic

Bioreactor

Feed and

CIP/Flushing/back

wash station skid

UF skid

AnMBR

Dairy Industry

Project Site: Wisconsin

Permeate Flow: 2160 m3/day

System: External AnMBR

COD Influent: 50.000 mg/L

COD removal: >99%

Membranes: 8mm PVDF, back washable

Filtration skids: 2 double loop

Energy: 3 kW/m3

Membrane

lifespan: 5 years

Application: Treat anaerobic discharge at dairy facility

and generate additional heat & electricity

Digestate Treatment

This biogas production process generates a residual product called anaerobic digestate.

The characteristics of this residual product are: organic matter difficult to biodegrade, high

presence of suspended solids and an elevated nitrogen concentration.

Digestate Treatment

MBR

Digestate treatment is a multi-step process that encompasses the following steps: MBR with

B-SMART® external UF and double stage/double pass Reverse Osmosis.

Benefits Generated by this process:

• 80% pure water which meets all discharge limits. Example:

COD levels up to 10ppm. Companies reutilize this rich

source of pure water for their industrial needs on site.

• 20% Reverse Osmosis concentrate that can be either

evaporated into an organic fertilizer or utilized in the

humidification process for compost production

COD reduction 99,8%

TS reduction 99,5%

TKN reduction 99,4%

Recovery RO 75-80%

Digestate Treatment

MBR

Case study - Italy

MBRDigestate from the fermentation of municipal solid waste.

Digestate treatment

Direct Filtration

Another option for the treatment of the digestate is to replace the biological treatment (MBR) with

a direct filtration with external B-SMART® UF and then an RO stage can be added or not.

CONCENTRATE

Case study- Italy

Direct Filtration

Digestate from the fermentation of slaughterhouse wastewater.

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