Membrane Bioreactors and Algae–Bacteria Consortia: Mechanisms, Innovations and Applications in Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Wastewater Treatment and Reuse".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 1
Special Issue Editor
Interests: algae–bacteria symbiosis system; membrane bioreactor technology; wastewater treatment; nutrient revovery; biofuels production; membrane fouling mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As the global population grows and urbanization accelerates, the challenges of wastewater treatment and resource recovery are becoming increasingly urgent. Modern wastewater treatment must meet higher standards of efficiency and sustainability, balancing effective treatment with reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. In this context, both membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology and algae–bacteria consortia present unique solutions to these challenges, each offering distinct advantages for wastewater treatment and resource recovery.
Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been widely recognized for their ability to provide high-quality effluent and efficient wastewater treatment, yet they face ongoing challenges, such as membrane fouling and energy consumption. The need for improvements in membrane performance and system stability, as well as solutions to reduce operational costs and enhance energy efficiency, has become increasingly important.
On the other hand, algae–bacteria consortia represent an emerging approach to wastewater treatment, with the potential to simultaneously address nutrient removal, organic matter degradation, and resource recovery, including bioenergy production. Algae–bacteria systems offer sustainable solutions by reducing the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment, enhancing nutrient removal efficiency, and producing valuable by-products like lipids and biofuels.
This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on both membrane bioreactor technology and algae–bacteria consortia, focusing on their mechanisms, innovations, and applications in the context of wastewater treatment and resource recovery. We invite contributions on topics including, but not limited to, the following:
- Membrane bioreactor applications and innovations;
- Membrane fouling mechanisms and control strategies;
- Energy-efficient and low-carbon solutions for membrane bioreactor systems;
- Algae–bacteria consortia for nutrient removal, bioenergy production, and carbon reduction;
- Sustainable wastewater treatment technologies for improved resource recovery and energy savings.
We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.
Prof. Dr. Meijia Zhang
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- membrane bioreactor
- algae–bacteria consortia
- wastewater treatment
- resource recovery
- membrane fouling
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