Membrane bioreactors for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment in Shandong Province

¹ University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Austraila
² Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
³ Bukhara State Medical Institute named after Abu Ali ibn Sino, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
⁴ Kuban State Agrarian University, Krasnodar, Russian Federation

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Slaughterhouse effluents in Shandong Province combine high concentrations of biodegradable organics, lipids, nitrogenous compounds, and suspended solids with strong diurnal variability, challenging conventional treatment trains. This article evaluates membrane bioreactor configurations as core process units for achieving stable discharge and reuse targets while managing energy demand and sludge production. Using open official statistics for 2012-2024 and a transparent mass-balance framework, three pathways are compared: anaerobic digestion coupled to an aerobic membrane bioreactor, anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating the full load, and aerobic membrane bioreactor with primary fat, oil, and grease removal. Indicators include removal of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, specific energy use, membrane flux and recovery intervals, sludge yield, and levelized cost. Results show that anaerobic membrane bioreactor options deliver the highest energy recovery and lowest sludge yield but require polishing for nitrogen; aerobic membrane bioreactor achieves the most reliable nutrient removal at higher energy intensity, with hybrid trains balancing costs and compliance.