In-situ Revitalizing End-of-Life MBR Membranes via a Curtain-Type Dynamic Membrane Process

Dynamic membranes, a promising alternative, are impeded in large-scale implementation by inherent issues of conventional flat-sheet designs, such as uneven flow distribution and performance instability. Herein, we propose a novel strategy that directly upcycles end-of-life (EoL) hollow-fiber MBR membranes as substrates for curtain-type dynamic membranes (CTDMs).

Our strategy not only provides effective solutions for extending the service life of EoL MBR membranes, but also avoids filtration heterogeneity of dynamic membranes during scale-up through a linear scaling law. The curtain-type substrate layer rapidly forms a biofilm and attains stable effluent quality (turbidity < 5 NTU) within 10 minutes. Exposing only 5% of the internal substrate surface for CTDM fabrication restores performance comparable to that of new MBR membranes while meeting discharge standards.