Critical review of oxygen transfer performance indicators for membrane-aerated biofilm reactors

초록

Membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) are considered an energy-efficient alternative to conventional activated sludge systems, offering enhanced nitrogen removal through direct oxygen delivery and counter-diffusion biofilm architectures. Despite their demonstrated potential, reliable evaluation of MABR oxygen transfer performance remains challenging due to inconsistent definitions and calculation methods for key performance indicators, including oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE), oxygen transfer rate (OTR), and aeration efficiency (AE). This review provides a systematic and critical assessment of the principal approaches used to calculate and interpret these indicators, with particular emphasis on their theoretical foundations, data requirements, and practical applicability. In addition, the influences of membrane properties, aeration strategies, biofilm characteristics, and influent composition on OTE, OTR, and AE are examined based on reported experimental, pilot-scale, and full-scale studies. By analyzing the theoretical foundations, computational formulations, operational sensitivities, and practical limitations of existing methodologies, this review clarifies the inherent trade-offs among commonly used indicators. Through this analysis, the study contributes to more standardized and transparent evaluation frameworks, and informed optimization of MABR systems.

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