APPLICATION OF GAS-LIQUID 2-PHASE CROSS-FLOW FILTRATION TO PILOT-SCALE METHANE FERMENTATION

As part of a national project, ''Aqua-Renaissance '90,'' by the MITI, a pilot-scale evaluation of membrane-enhanced anaerobic fermentation, has progressed for the wastewater from a pulp and paper mill. A novel membrane filtration system was newly proposed with the aim of saving energy. That is, a gas-liquid two-phase cross-flow filtration which was generated with liquid circulation by an air-lift pump effect, was combined in the anaerobic bioreactor. It was confirmed that the membrane filtration not only offered very stable and large permeate flux, but enhanced the processing efficiency by retaining the microorganisms in the bioreactor. Furthermore, the power consumption per unit permeate volume in the membrane system of 1.78 kWh/m3 was achieved, which was a very high-performance result from the viewpoint of saving energy, as compared with 3 - 5 kWh/m3 of conventional liquid single-phase cross-flow filtration.