Environmental awareness has increased significantly during the past years and the need to replace fossil fuels with a more sustainable alternative has become a priority in the modern society. Algal biofuels have shown to have a good productivity compared to other biomass feedstock options but the high cost- low-efficiency cultivation process has proven to be a challenge. The purpose of this project is to use membrane technologies to recover algal biomass more efficiently. This technology would significantly reduce the water usage and energy input to the algal biomass production process. In this study, the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) model derived using the Surface Element Integration (SEI) technique was used to identify the interaction energy between 3 microalgae species and 5 hollow fiber membrane materials. The results suggested that Scendesmus Obliquous would have the lowest energy barrier (-2.7834 kT) with a Poly(vinylbutyral) (PVB) hollow fiber membrane, therefore it would have a greater initial number of algal cells attaching to the membrane, compared to the other microalgae and membrane materials studied. Further work needs to be completed in order to integrate algae growth and biomass harvesting into the actual model.

The diploma thesis deals with the application of membrane processes for the treatment of washing water from sand filters of pool technology to parameters suitable for its reuse, not only on a theoretical level, but also on a real example. The experimental part deals with the monitoring of relevant parameters given by Decree no. 568/2000 Sb. and other technologically significant water quality indicators. All monitored parameters in the reverse osmosis permeate reached satisfactory values and thus it was concluded that the effluent water is suitable for reuse. Instead of being discharged into the sewer, it is possible to recycle 70 to 80 % of the washed water per day thanks to the applied technology, which saves approximately 20 m3 of water per day.

The Master’s Thesis deals with the application of membrane technologies in the production of drinking water from the effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). There were two types of pressure-driven membrane processes selected – ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, to achieve water production of the required quality. For the needs of the diploma thesis, an already existing pilot-scale membrane unit of the ASIO TECH Company l.t.d. was used. There were 44 physical, chemical and microbiological parameters observed to assess the quality of the produced water and also the input water (effluent from the WWTP). None of the afore mentioned parameters exceeded the limit values, more specifically the highest limit values issued by the Decree 70/2018 Coll. However, the produced water cannot be considered as drinking water because of its low mineralisation. Before its potential application in practise, it is therefore necessary to choose an appropriate method of remineralisation as well as to follow all the other legislative requirements for the drinking water, which have already been out of the scope within the Master’s Thesis.

The most significant environmental problems related to the food industry is water consumption and pollution, energy consumption and waste production. Most of the water that does not become a part of the products ultimately leaves plants in the form of wastewater, which is often very specific and requires adequate handling / treatment / disposal. For the purpose of this thesis, brewery industry was chosen, because of its very long tradition in the Czech history and culture. Anaerobic technologies are applied for still wider range of industrial wastewater treating. In general anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) can very effectively treat wastewater of different concentration and composition and produce treated water (outlet, permeate) of excellent quality, that can be further utilised. At the same time, it can promote energy self-sufficiency through biogas production usable in WWTPs / plants. Main disadvantages include unavoidable membrane fouling and generally higher CAPEX / OPEX. Within the framework of Ph.D. studies and related research activities, immersed membrane modules for anaerobic applications were selected and lab-scale tested (designed and assembled laboratory unit), an AnMBR pilot plant was designed, built and subsequently tested under real conditions - at Černá Hora Brewery WWTP (waste waters from the brewery and associated facilities). The pilot AnMBR and the technology itself has been verified over more than a year (5/2015 – 11/2016) of trial operation - the initial and recommended operational parameters have been set up, minor construction adjustments / modifications and measurement & regulation optimizations have been made, the recommended membrane cleaning and regeneration procedure has been verified. Last, but not least, conclusions and recommendations of the trial operation were summarised - some key findings and recommendations for further operation, use and modifications of the existing AnMBR pilot plant are presented.