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A conventional membrane bioreactor (MBR) and two moving bed bioreactors coupled with ultrafiltration membrane filtration were operated for close to six months to investigate biological nutrient removal and potential fouling inducing parameter mitigation. Unique to one of the moving bed membrane bioreactors (MBMBR) was a newly designed media that incorporated a hydrodynamic exterior carrier with a highly porous interior packing. Preliminary investigation indicates that nitrogen compounds were superiorly removed in the two MBMBRs when compared with the MBR. This is a result of denitrification processes occurring in anoxic micro-zones found within the depths of the biofilm affixed to media. Fouling propensity was found to be increased by over four times in the MBMBR systems as compared to the MBR. Mixed liquor, permeate and filtrate analysis, membrane fibre examination and permeability tests indicated that colloidal organic carbon, as well as soluble microbial products were the dominant fouling inducing compounds. / Manuscript format / The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

The work presented in this thesis leads to the formulation of a dynamic mathematical model of an immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR) for wastewater treatment. This thesis is organised into three parts, each one describing a different set of tasks associated with model development and simulation. In the first part, the Author qualitatively and quantitatively compares various published activated sludge models, i.e. models of biochemical processes associated with bacterial growth, decay, lysis and substrate utilisation in activated sludge systems. As the thesis is focused on modelling membrane bioreactors (MBRs) which are known to experience membrane fouling as a result of adsorption of biopolymers present in the bulk liquid onto and within the membrane, all activated sludge models considered in this thesis are able to predict, with various levels of accuracy, the concentrations of biopolymeric substances, namely soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Some of the published activated sludge models dedicated to modelling SMP and EPS kinetics in MBR systems were unable to predict the SMP and EPS concentrations with adequate levels of accuracy, without compromising the predictions of other sludge and wastewater constituents. In other cases, the model equations and the assumptions made by their authors were questionable. Hence, two new activated sludge models with SMP and EPS as additional components have been formulated, described, and simulated. The first model is based on the Activated Sludge Model No. 1 (ASM1) whereas the second model is based on the Activated Sludge Model No. 3 (ASM3). Both models are calibrated on two sets of data obtained from a laboratory-scale system and a full-scale system and prove to be in very good agreement with the measurements. The second part of this thesis explains the development of two membrane fouling models. These models are set to describe the loss of membrane permeability during filtration of various solutions and suspensions. The main emphasis is placed on filtration of activated sludge mixtures, however the models are designed to be as general as feasibly possible. As fouling is found to be caused by a large number of often very complex processes which occur at different spatial as well as temporal scales, the two fouling models developed here have to consider a number of significant simplifications and assumptions. These simplifications are required to balance the model's accuracy, generality and completeness with its usability in terms of execution times, identifiability of parameters and ease of implementation in general purpose simulators. These requirements are necessary to ascertain that long term simulations as well as optimisation and sensitivity studies performed in this thesis either individually on fouling models or on the complete model of a MBR can be carried out within realistic time-scales. The first fouling model is based on an idea that fouling can be subdivided into just two processes: short-term reversible fouling and long-term irreversible fouling. These two processes are described with two first order ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Whilst the first model characterises the membrane filtration process from an observer's input-output point of view without any rigorous deterministic description of the underlying mechanisms of membrane fouling, the second model provides a more theoretical and in-depth description of membrane fouling by incorporating and combining three classical macroscopic mechanistic fouling equations within a single simulation framework. Both models are calibrated on a number of experimental data and show good levels of accuracy for their designated applications and within the intended ranges of operating conditions. In the third part, the first developed biological model (CES-ASM1) is combined with the behavioural fouling model and the links between these two models are formulated to allow complete simulation of a hollow fibre (HF) immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR). It is assumed that biological processes affect the membrane through production of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), SMP and EPS which cause pore blockage, cake formation, pore diameter constriction, and affect the specific cake resistance (SCR). The membrane, on the other hand, has a direct effect on the bulk liquid SMP concentration due to its SMP rejection properties. SMP are assumed to be solely responsible for irreversible fouling, MLSS is directly linked to the amount of cake depositing on the membrane surface, whereas EPS content in activated sludge affects the cake's SCR. Other links provided in the integrated MBR model include the effects of air scouring on the rate of particle back-transport from the membrane surface and the effects of MLSS concentration on oxygen mass transfer. Although backwashing is not described in great detail, its effects are represented in the model by resetting the initial condition in the cake deposition equation after each backwash period. The MBR model was implemented in Simulink® using the plant layout adopted in the MBR benchmark model of Maere et al. [160]. The model was then simulated with the inputs and operational parameters defined in [36, 160]. The results were compared against the MBR benchmark model of Maere et al. [160] which, contrary to this work, does not take into account the production of biopolymers, the membrane fouling, nor any interactions between the biological and the membrane parts of an MBR system.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Nitriles are precursors of important amides and organic acids (e.g. acrylamide, nicotinamide, mandelic acid and acrylic acid) which are used, inter alia, as food additives, in plasticisers, detergents, make-up, medicine and as chemical intermediates in the production of various important polymers. Traditionally, chemical processes are used to convert nitriles to amides and organic acids but these processes are non-specific causing various by-products to form. Chemical processes are also environmentally unfriendly and require harsh conditions. Nitrile conversions through an enzymatic route, on the other hand, have the distinct advantages of excellent chemo-, regio- and stereo selectivities, mild process conditions and reduced downstream processing costs. The enzymatic process is mediated via an initial nitrilase catalysed conversion to amide, followed by an amidase catalysed conversion to acid. This research focused on the latter part of the enzymatic transformation of nitriles, which is the amidase catalysed biotransformation of an amide to an acid, specifically with respect to the development of a membrane immobilised amidase continuous process which has the major advantage of enzyme retention coupled with product separation. The research was conducted in three parts namely the characterisation of the free amidase, the development of the experimental bioreactor system and the quantification of the membrane immobilised amidase process.

<p>This master's theses was carried out on assignment from Stockholm Vatten AB as a part of a project developing new waste water treatment techniques. The goal of the theisis has been to evaluate an anaerobic membrane bioreactor for treatment of waste water from Hammarby Sjöstad. The bioreactor has not been heated and the main interest has been to study the gas production, power consumption and the reduction of organic matter and nutrients.</p><p>The system has been completed with a reverse osmosis unit and a total of four batch runs have been made with good results. The use of reverse osmosis allows nutrient in the waste water to be reintroduced into circulation as the reverse osmosis concentrate can be used as crop nutrient.</p><p>The membrane unit is of VSEP ("Vibratory Shear Enhanced Processing") type and an extensive membrane test has been conducted. This so called L-test helped determine the most suitable type of membrane for the system to allow a higher ±ux and thus lower power consumption. The L-test gave good results and a new membrane with a poresize diameter of 0,45 μm was used.</p><p>The organic load on the bioreactor has been more or less constant, around 0,7 kg COD/day, during the seven weeks of testing. The reduction over the entire system including reverse osmosis has been large, around 99 % regarding organic matter and phosporus and 93 % for nitrogen, making the system suitable for waste water treatment except for high power consumption, around 2 kWh/m3. The production of methanegas has worked although it has been quite low, with average values of 0,13 m3 CH4/kg reduced COD.</p> / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört på uppdrag av Stockholm Vatten AB som en del av det pilotprojekt som utvärderar nya tekniker för avloppsvattenrening för Hammarby Sjöstad. Målsättningen med studien har varit att utvärdera ett system bestående av en anaerob membranbioreaktor för behandling av avloppsvatten från Hammarby Sjöstad. Bioreaktorn har inte varit uppvärmd och det som har studerats är reningseffekten, biogasproduktionen samt energiåtgången.</p><p>Systemet har även innefattat en omvänd osmosanläggning och totalt har fyra försök med denna gjorts med goda resultat. Analyser har koncentrerats till att utvärdera reduktion av organiskt material över membranbioreaktorn och av närsalter och metaller över omvänd osmos anläggningen. Bakgrunden till att använda omvänd osmos är att öka återföringen av näringsämnen från avloppsvatten. Resultatet av försöken med omvänd osmos gav ett koncentrat med högt näringsinnehåll och låg halt av tungmetaller vilket ger möjligheten att sprida det på åkermark.</p><p>Membranenheten är av typen VSEP ("Vibratory Shear Enhanced Processing") och ett membrantest har även utfötts för att finna det membran som passar systemet bäst med avseende på flöde och energiförbrukning. Det så kallade L-testet var omfattande och gav en klar bild över vad som skulle vara det bästa membranet. Det membran som visade sig passa systemet bäst var ett membran med en porstorlek på 0,45 μm. Belastningen av organiskt material på reaktorn under försöksperiodens sju veckor har varit mer eller mindre konstant och låg, cirka 0,7 kg COD/dygn. Reduktionen över hela systemet inklusive omvänd osmosanläggningen med avseende på organiskt material och fosfor har varit mycket hög, omkring 99 %. Reduktionen av kväve var som högst 93 %. Gasproduktionen har fungerat och har i genomsnitt varit omkring 0,13 m3 CH4/kg reducerad COD.</p><p>Energiförbrukningen för systemet i motsvarande fullskala blev omkring 2 kwh/m3.</p>

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Stacy L. Hutchinson / The shortage of clean, usable water is a global problem (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). As much as 80% of the world’s population has been reported to be in areas of high water security risk due to a convergence of factors, such as watershed disturbance, pollution, water resource development and biotic factors (Voeroesmarty et al., 2010). Water reuse technologies are a potential solution to this problem. However, implementation of treatment technologies for improved water reuse require rapid, effective monitoring techniques capable of insuring treatment quality. Fluorescence spectroscopy has shown potential for wastewater treatment monitoring due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and capacity to be employed in-situ. Online fluorescence data and full fluorescence excitation-emission matrices coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) were employed to evaluate the treatment performance of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) at Fort Riley, KS. Specific research goals were to evaluate the effectiveness of fluorescence for monitoring wastewater treatment and to determine the contamination detection limit of fluorescence techniques in a non-potable reuse scenario. Study results revealed a two-stage startup period, the first 60 days indicated membrane cake layer formation and the first 90 days showed signs of oxic tank maturation. Fluorescence was found to be effective at monitoring carbon concentration trends throughout the MBR system, showed preferential removal of protein-like dissolved organic matter (DOM), and an increase in biodegradation of DOM as the oxic tank matured. A ratio of the humic-like fluorescent components to the protein-like fluorescent components correlated to TOC removal (R² = .845, p < .001). Also, fluorescence was able to detect contamination in the effluent at the 0.74-1.24 mg C/L level using two wavelength pairs, indicating that effective real-time monitoring for contamination can be accomplished with minimal instrumentation and post-processing of data.

La problématique concernant la présence et les risques potentiels liés aux micropolluants dans l'environnement est devenue une préoccupation d'actualité. Aujourd'hui, les stations d'épuration ne sont pas en mesure de traiter de manière adéquate ce nouveau type de pollution. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, l'application de la technologie des bioréacteurs à membrane a été envisagée afin d'évaluer leur potentiel pour la dégradation d'un médicament anticancéreux : le cyclophosphamide (CP). Les objectifs de cette étude sont d'une part évaluer le potentiel des bioréacteurs à membrane pour la dégradation du cyclophosphamide, ainsi que pour l'élimination de sa toxicité, d'autre part rechercher l'effet du CP et de ses métabolites sur les performances globales du procédé et sur l'activité de la biomasse épuratrice ainsi que sur les propriétés physico-chimiques de la liqueur mixte et les conséquences sur le colmatage. Deux âges de boues ont été évalués, 50 jours lors de la première campagne et 70 jours lors de la deuxième. L'élimination du CP et du métabolite 4-Keto-CP durant les deux campagnes expérimentales est d'environ 80% pour les deux composés. Les processus d'adsorption et de biodégradation contribuent à l'élimination du CP de l'eau résiduaire traitée. Le cocktail de CP et ces métabolites aux conditions opératoires étudiées n'a pas d'influence significative sur l'élimination globale de la DCO et de l'azote total. Cependant, la toxicité du cocktail des composés pharmaceutiques sur la boue activée modifie les caractéristiques de la matrice biologique : Une diminution de la production de boues du BÀM R1 CP par rapport au BÀM R2 contrôle est observée. La présence du CP et ses principaux métabolites stimule les mécanismes de survie et de production des EPS avec une production légèrement plus forte des polysaccharides que des protéines. Les résultats mettent en évidence que la réponse des boues activées des BÀM au cisaillement est dépendante de la présence de ces molécules. Cette étude démontre au final l'intérêt des BÀM pour traiter ce type d'effluents, et limiter la pollution relarguée dans le milieu naturel. / In hospital or pharmaceutical discharges, but also in wastewater treatment plants and more generally in the aquatic environment, toxics pollutants have been identified. Some pharmaceuticals are not completely eliminated in the municipal wastewater treatment plants and are discharged as contaminants into receiving waters. The application of membrane bioreactor process is investigated here with the aim of evaluating the potential for removal of cyclophosphamide (CP). In this study, two membrane bioreactors (MBR) were operated: one of the MBR served as a control, whereas to the other CP and its main metabolites were continuously added. Two sludge retention times were assessed, 50 days and 70 days. Removal of CP in a MBR and its effects on the membrane performance, COD and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency were studied. CP and 4-Ketocyclophosphamide removals up to 80% were achieved under studied operating conditions. The sludge adsorption and biodegradation (cometabolism) play an important role in the process of CP removal. CP and its metabolites toxicity do not alter COD and total nitrogen removal efficiency of MBRs. However, it induces a modification of the biological suspended solids and in doing so a modification on the membrane fouling: a decrease in the production of sludge MBR CP compared to MBR control is observed; the presence of CP and its main metabolites stimulates mechanisms of protection and production of EPS with a slightly higher production of polysaccharides than proteins. The results underline that the response of activated sludge to shear stress is dependent on the presence of these molecules. This study demonstrates the interest of MBR to treat this type of effluent and reduce the pollution released into the environment

No presente trabalho foram estudados sistemas pilotos de tratamento integrado de lodos ativados com sistemas de separação por membranas de ultrafiltração visando o reúso de água. O esgoto bruto utilizado foi originado do Conjunto Residencial associado ao esgoto do restaurante universitário da Universidade de São Paulo. Este esgoto possui características físico-químicas e biológicas similares ao esgoto doméstico. O esgoto utilizado nos sistemas de tratamento foi submetido à pré-tratamento: gradeamento e caixa de areia. Foram montados dois sistemas pilotos: I) sistema piloto recebendo esgoto doméstico primário com sistema de tratamento composto por reator biológico de lodos ativados (500 L de volume) e sistema de separação por membranas de ultrafiltração tipo tubular (1,4 m² de área superficial) externa ao tanque de aeração. Este sistema apresentou como resultados principais: taxas médias de produção de permeado de 22,9 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-² e 17 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-².bar-¹; valores característicos do permeado em relação à variável turbidez média de 0,3±0,1 UNT, cor aparente média de 31,2±4,6 mg de PtCo.L-¹, sólidos dissolvidos totais de 201±47mg.L-¹ e sólidos suspensos totais não detectável. O sistema de lodos ativados operou em regime de aeração prolongada. II) sistema piloto recebendo esgoto doméstico, após tratamento anaeróbio em reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB), composto por reator biológico de lodos ativados (1.500 L) e sistema de separação por membrana de ultrafiltração tipo espiral (14,4m² de área superficial) interna ao tanque de aeração. Este sistema apresentou como resultados principais: taxas médias de produção de permeado de 16,1 ± 4,1 L.h-¹.m-²; valores característicos do permeado em relação à variável turbidez média 0,2±0,1 UNT, cor aparente média de 25±5 mgPtCo.L-¹ e sólidos suspensos totais não detectável. Em ambos os sistemas as eficiências de remoção de nitrogênio e fósforo podem ser consideradas pequenas. Desta forma, foram adicionados sulfato de alumínio e cloreto férrico no tanque de aeração do sistema piloto II. As dosagens variaram de 40 a 80 mg.L-¹. Os melhores resultados de eficiência de remoção de fósforo solúvel foram obtidos com o sulfato de alumínio (em torno de 79%) na dosagem de 80 mg.L-¹. / A pilot plant integrating an extended aeration activated sludge unit and an ultrafiltration membrane system was constructed and operated aiming at the production of an effluent to be reused in industrial activities. Raw wastewater was collected from a student residential building and from one of the University of São Paulo\'s restaurants. The wastewater characteristics have shown to be very close to conventional domestic wastewaters. This wastewater was submitted to preliminary treatment by screening and subsequent grit removal. Two pilots systems were studied. The first one, treating the preliminary treated wastewater by the activated sludge unit followed by the ultrafiltration membrane system of the tubular type (1,4 m² of surface area). In this case, the membrane was located external to the aeration tank. This system has shown the following main results: average rates of percolate production of 22,9 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-².bar-¹ and 17 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-².bar-¹; average characteristic values of the percolate as: turbidity of 0,3±0,1 UNT, apparent Color of 31,2±4,6 mg of PtCo.L-¹, total dissolved solids of 201±47mg.L-¹ and total suspended solids not detectable. The second pilot unit received the effluent from an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor and was composed by the extended aeration activated sludge reactor and an ultrafiltration membrane system of the spiral type (14,4m² of surface area), internal to the aeration tank of the activated sludge unit. This system has shown the following main results: average rates of percolate production of 16,1 ± 4.1 L.h-¹.m-²; average characteristic values of the percolate as: turbidity of 0,2±0,1 UNT, apparent color of 25±5 mgPtCo.L-¹ and total suspended solids not detectable. In both systems, the efficiencies of Nitrogen and Phosphorus removal can be considered as small. To improve the efficiencies of soluble phosphorus removal it has been added aluminum sulphate and ferric chloride to the aeration tank of the second pilot unit. The dosages had varied from 40 to 80 mg.L-¹. The best soluble phosphorus removal (about 79%) was achieved with the dosage of 80 mg.L-¹ of aluminum sulphate.

No presente trabalho foram estudados sistemas pilotos de tratamento integrado de lodos ativados com sistemas de separação por membranas de ultrafiltração visando o reúso de água. O esgoto bruto utilizado foi originado do Conjunto Residencial associado ao esgoto do restaurante universitário da Universidade de São Paulo. Este esgoto possui características físico-químicas e biológicas similares ao esgoto doméstico. O esgoto utilizado nos sistemas de tratamento foi submetido à pré-tratamento: gradeamento e caixa de areia. Foram montados dois sistemas pilotos: I) sistema piloto recebendo esgoto doméstico primário com sistema de tratamento composto por reator biológico de lodos ativados (500 L de volume) e sistema de separação por membranas de ultrafiltração tipo tubular (1,4 m² de área superficial) externa ao tanque de aeração. Este sistema apresentou como resultados principais: taxas médias de produção de permeado de 22,9 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-² e 17 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-².bar-¹; valores característicos do permeado em relação à variável turbidez média de 0,3±0,1 UNT, cor aparente média de 31,2±4,6 mg de PtCo.L-¹, sólidos dissolvidos totais de 201±47mg.L-¹ e sólidos suspensos totais não detectável. O sistema de lodos ativados operou em regime de aeração prolongada. II) sistema piloto recebendo esgoto doméstico, após tratamento anaeróbio em reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB), composto por reator biológico de lodos ativados (1.500 L) e sistema de separação por membrana de ultrafiltração tipo espiral (14,4m² de área superficial) interna ao tanque de aeração. Este sistema apresentou como resultados principais: taxas médias de produção de permeado de 16,1 ± 4,1 L.h-¹.m-²; valores característicos do permeado em relação à variável turbidez média 0,2±0,1 UNT, cor aparente média de 25±5 mgPtCo.L-¹ e sólidos suspensos totais não detectável. Em ambos os sistemas as eficiências de remoção de nitrogênio e fósforo podem ser consideradas pequenas. Desta forma, foram adicionados sulfato de alumínio e cloreto férrico no tanque de aeração do sistema piloto II. As dosagens variaram de 40 a 80 mg.L-¹. Os melhores resultados de eficiência de remoção de fósforo solúvel foram obtidos com o sulfato de alumínio (em torno de 79%) na dosagem de 80 mg.L-¹. / A pilot plant integrating an extended aeration activated sludge unit and an ultrafiltration membrane system was constructed and operated aiming at the production of an effluent to be reused in industrial activities. Raw wastewater was collected from a student residential building and from one of the University of São Paulo\'s restaurants. The wastewater characteristics have shown to be very close to conventional domestic wastewaters. This wastewater was submitted to preliminary treatment by screening and subsequent grit removal. Two pilots systems were studied. The first one, treating the preliminary treated wastewater by the activated sludge unit followed by the ultrafiltration membrane system of the tubular type (1,4 m² of surface area). In this case, the membrane was located external to the aeration tank. This system has shown the following main results: average rates of percolate production of 22,9 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-².bar-¹ and 17 ±2,7 L.h-¹.m-².bar-¹; average characteristic values of the percolate as: turbidity of 0,3±0,1 UNT, apparent Color of 31,2±4,6 mg of PtCo.L-¹, total dissolved solids of 201±47mg.L-¹ and total suspended solids not detectable. The second pilot unit received the effluent from an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor and was composed by the extended aeration activated sludge reactor and an ultrafiltration membrane system of the spiral type (14,4m² of surface area), internal to the aeration tank of the activated sludge unit. This system has shown the following main results: average rates of percolate production of 16,1 ± 4.1 L.h-¹.m-²; average characteristic values of the percolate as: turbidity of 0,2±0,1 UNT, apparent color of 25±5 mgPtCo.L-¹ and total suspended solids not detectable. In both systems, the efficiencies of Nitrogen and Phosphorus removal can be considered as small. To improve the efficiencies of soluble phosphorus removal it has been added aluminum sulphate and ferric chloride to the aeration tank of the second pilot unit. The dosages had varied from 40 to 80 mg.L-¹. The best soluble phosphorus removal (about 79%) was achieved with the dosage of 80 mg.L-¹ of aluminum sulphate.

O mercado de biorreatores com membranas (BRMs) têm exibido alto crescimento. Contudo, o fouling diminui o desempenho desses sistemas drasticamente. A aeração promove a mitigação do fouling, mas possui alto custo operacional (de até 70% do total da demanda energética) e é utilizada de forma otimizada apenas 10% das vezes, gerando a necessidade de estudos sobre a hidrodinâmica em BRMs. Ferramentas de dinâmica de fluidos computacional (CFD) são úteis para esse tipo de análise. Um dos primeiros passos para encontrar uma solução apropriada em simulações numéricas é propor uma modelagem correta. Dentre os fenômenos a serem modelados, os efeitos da turbulência são provavelmente um dos mais importantes; porém, nenhum artigo que comparasse predições com base na escolha de modelo de turbulência para simulações de sistemas BRM foi encontrado. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a importância da escolha do modelo de turbulência para simulações de biorreatores com membranas através de CFD. Para isso, as predições obtidas de velocidade local próxima às superfícies das membranas e de tensão cisalhante nessas superfícies para duas taxas de aeração, 5 e 15 m³/h, empregando dois modelos de turbulência, k-ϵ com funções de parede para alto (aR) e para baixo número de Reynolds (bR) e k-ω SST (Shear Stress Transport) com funções de parede automáticas, na análise de um sistema BRM foram comparadas entre si e com dados experimentais e simulados disponíveis na literatura. Os perfis temporais da velocidade e da tensão cisalhante exibiram alta variabilidade no período das oscilações em certos pontos, exigindo um longo tempo de escoamento para a convergência das variáveis locais. Identificou-se a necessidade de outorgar maior importância à definição do intervalo de tempo de coleta de dados experimentais, de modo a adquirir médias representativas do perfil dinâmico das variáveis e destes perfis serem também analisados para comparações mais definitivas entre resultados de simulações e medições experimentais. As diferenças, entre as medições experimentais da literatura e predições, obtidas pelas simulações deste trabalho foram, no geral, de ordem similar ou menores que as obtidas pelas simulações na literatura. Além disso, maior atenção deve ser dada à escolha da estratégia de modelagem de turbulência, visto que houve alta sensibilidade das predições, que variaram em até 21,6% dependendo dessa escolha. / Membrane bioreactors (MBR) market has been showing high growth rates over recent years. However, membrane fouling drastically reduces MBR overall performance. Aeration promotes fouling mitigation, but at a high operational cost (up to 70% of the MBR energy demand) and it is optimally employed only in 10% of the cases. This created the need of studies focused on MBR hydrodynamic. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a useful tool for hydrodynamic analysis. One of the first steps in finding a proper solution for numerical simulation is proposing a correct modelling. Among the phenomena to be modelled for MBR simulations, turbulence effects are probably one of the most important; nevertheless, no paper comparing the predictions based on the turbulence model choice for MBR simulations was found. In sight of that, this work aimed to verify the relevance of the choice of turbulence model for MBR simulations through CFD. Predictions of local velocities near membranes surfaces and of local shear stress on those surfaces, for two aeration rates (5 and 15 m³/h), employing k-ϵ with wall functions for high (aR) and low (bR) Reynolds number and k-ω SST with automatic wall functions, on the analysis of a MRB system, were compared between each other and with experimental and simulated data available in the literature. The velocity and shear stress temporal profiles showed oscillations with highly variable periods in some points, which required a long process real time to verify the local variables convergence. It was identified the need to give more importance to the definition of the time interval for experimental data collection in order to acquire reliable temporal means; also, one must properly analyze the temporal profiles for more definitive comparisons between predictions and experimental measurements. The differences, between experimental data and predictions, obtained through this work simulations were, in general, of similar order or smaller than the ones reported in the literature. Besides, more attention must be given to the turbulence modelling choices, since the predictions obtained here were highly sensitive to those choices, showing differences up to 21,6% among them.