Ratri Rahmawati, Gita Anggia Puspita, Afiq Mohd Laziz, Yusuf Wibisono, Femiana Gapsari, Teguh Dwi Widodo, Muhammad Roil Bilad
Membrane fouling remains a critical challenge in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). The main objective of this study was to systematically investigate a newly developed finned spacer that direct air bubbles to enhance foulant scouring. Lab-scale tests and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations revealed that the spacer enhanced permeability by 30 % (from 289.2 ± 2.1 to 396.3 ± 9.3 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹). This improvement was attributed to enhanced bubble-membrane contact and liquid recirculation, enabling effective cleaning at relatively low aeration (0.25 L min⁻¹) and thus reducing energy demands. While smaller fin gaps optimized the bubble trajectory, it also slightly increased drag forces. Intermittent aeration further halved the energy use. Overall, the finned represents a cost-effective and energy-efficient strategy for mitigating membrane fouling in MBRs. © 2025
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muria Kudus, Jl. Lingkar Utara, Gondang Manis, Kudus, Bae, 59324, Indonesia; Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Brawijaya University, Malang, 65141, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Perak, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Malaysia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia; Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam; Faculty of Applied Science and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Jl. Pemuda No 59A, Mataram, 83126, Indonesia
