Sharjeel Waqas, Muhammad Roil Bilad, Zakaria Man, Yusuf Wibisono, Juhana Jaafar, Teuku Meurah Indra Mahlia, Asim Laeeq Khan, Muhammad Aslam
Integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) process is considered as one of the leading-edge processes that provides a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment. IFAS was introduced as an advancement of the moving bed biofilm reactor by integrating the attached and the suspended growth systems. IFAS offers advantages over the conventional activated sludge process such as reduced footprint, enhanced nutrient removal, complete nitrification, longer solids retention time and better removal of anthropogenic composites. IFAS has been recognized as an attractive option as stated from the results of many pilot and full scales studies. Generally, IFAS achieves >90% removals for combined chemical oxygen demand and ammonia, improves sludge settling properties and enhances operational stability. Recently developed IFAS reactors incorporate frameworks for either methane production, energy generation through algae, or microbial fuel cells. This review details the recent development in IFAS with the focus on the pilot and full-scale applications. The microbial community analyses of IFAS biofilm and floc are underlined along with the special emphasis on organics and nitrogen removals, as well as the future research perspectives. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, 32610, Malaysia; Bioprocess Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia; Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, 81310, Johor, Malaysia; School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, 2007, NSW, Australia; Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road, Lahore, Pakistan