Phosphorus removal in membrane bioreactor systems: a systematic review of operational parameters and configurations

Autores

  • Renata de Arcega Leal Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2231-6195
  • Amanda Dalalibera Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5671-0034
  • André Aguiar Battistelli Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4951-3272
  • Tiago José Belli Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, 89140-000, Ibirama, SC, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8902-4743
  • Maria Eliza Nagel-Hassemer Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7732-7218
  • Gabriel Tochetto Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1656-505X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36661/2596-142X.2026v8n1.15643

Palavras-chave:

Nutrient recovery, Biological degradation, Scientometric analysis, Sustainability, Wastewater treatment

Resumo

Phosphorus (P) is an essential yet finite resource, and concerns about its availability are intensified by population growth, urbanization, and increasing food demand, while stringent discharge regulations are required to protect aquatic ecosystems from eutrophication. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) combine biological treatment with membrane separation, enabling high effluent quality and supporting water reuse; however, the literature reports P performance in ways that are difficult to compare across studies. This systematic review screened 854 Scopus records (2014–2025) and synthesized 29 eligible bench- and pilot-scale studies reporting at least one operational parameter (transmembrane pressure (TMP), hydraulic retention time (HRT), sludge retention time (SRT), or aeration) alongside P performance. Its novelty lies in linking operational settings to performance separately for each P fraction, distinguishing true dissolved-P removal from particulate retention by the membrane, a distinction rarely made in earlier reviews. High total phosphorus (TP) removals (>90%) were frequently reported under optimized or hybrid conditions, including electro-assisted configurations such as electrocoagulation, whereas conventional aerobic MBRs showed more variable orthophosphate removal. Operational settings that improve biological uptake or promote precipitation enhanced P removal but also intensified fouling, revealing a consistent trade-off between effluent quality and membrane service life. The evidence supports MBR-based systems as a versatile platform for meeting stringent P targets, provided that P fractions are reported explicitly and that removal mechanisms are separated from solids retention.

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Biografia do Autor

  • Renata de Arcega Leal, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Engenheira Sanitarista e Ambiental (UFSC)

  • Amanda Dalalibera, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Engenheira Ambiental e Sanitarista (2019) formada pela Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC/CAV) e mestre em Engenharia Ambiental (2022) pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). Atualmente, sou doutoranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental (PPGEA) e membro do Laboratório de Reúso de Águas (LaRA/UFSC). Atuo na área de tratamento de efluentes, com ênfase em efluentes têxteis, integrando processos biológicos e eletroquímicos, especialmente em eletrobiorreatores a membrana, com foco no reúso de água.

  • André Aguiar Battistelli, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Possui graduação em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste do Paraná, Doutorado em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, para o qual foi aprovado por meio de transferência direta do mestrado, e Pós-doutorado na mesma instituição. Também concluiu cursos de Especialização em Engenharia de Segurança do Trabalho, Docência no Ensino Superior e Auditoria e Perícia Ambiental. Atualmente é professor assistente do Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e supervisor do Laboratório de Reúso de Águas (LaRA). Atuou como pesquisador visitante na Universitat de Girona (UdG), na Espanha, no contexto de um projeto de cooperação internacional do CNPq, na modalidade de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico e Inovação no Exterior Sênior (DES). Desenvolve pesquisas na área de saneamento ambiental, com ênfase na aplicação de tecnologias inovadoras e sustentáveis para o tratamento de efluentes sanitários e industriais, recuperação de recursos e promoção da economia circular.

  • Tiago José Belli, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, 89140-000, Ibirama, SC, Brasil

    Possui graduação em Engenharia Ambiental (2007) pela Universidade Estadual do Centro Oeste-PR. Mestrado (2011), doutorado (2015) e pós-doutorado (2016) em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Atualmente é professor associado nível 5 do departamento de Engenharia Civil da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), onde leciona disciplinas vinculadas ao tratamento de águas residuárias. Atualmente (2025-2026), exerce a função de chefe de departamento do curso de Engenharia Civil da UDESC/Alto Vale. Atua como professor permanente no Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil (PPGEC/CCT) da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), orientando alunos de mestrado e doutorado na linha de pesquisa em Recursos Hídricos e Saneamento Ambiental. É revisor de periódicos nacionais e internacionais. Desenvolve pesquisa nas seguintes temáticas: tratamento de águas residuárias; biorreator à membrana (BRM); Eletro-biorreator à membrana (EBRM); reatores híbridos; tratamento de efluente industrial.

  • Maria Eliza Nagel-Hassemer, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Professora Associada do Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). Possui graduação em Engenharia Sanitária pela UFSC (1983), mestrado em Engenharia Ambiental pela UFSC (2000) e doutorado em Engenharia Ambiental pela UFSC (2006), com parte realizada na Universidade do Minho, Portugal, além de pós-doutorados pela UFSC (2008 e 2012). Tem experiência na área de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, com ênfase em técnicas convencionais e avançadas de tratamento de água e de efluentes domésticos e industriais, no controle e tratamento de efluentes líquidos e gasosos, na avaliação da qualidade do ar e gases poluentes, bem como na gestão ambiental, com foco em Produção Mais Limpa e sustentabilidade ambiental. Integra a liderança do Grupo de Estudos em Saneamento Descentralizado (GESAD) e o grupo de pesquisadores do LABEFLU Laboratório de Efluentes Líquidos e Gasosos. Atua como supervisora do LaRA Laboratório de Reuso de Águas (UFSC/ENS) e coordenadora do NEAmb Núcleo de Educação Ambiental do Centro Tecnológico da UFSC. Foi tutora da Empresa Júnior de Consultoria Sanitária e Ambiental (EJESAM) do curso de Graduação em Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental da UFSC (ago. 2021 ago. 2023). Atuou como supervisora do LIMA Laboratório Integrado de Meio Ambiente do Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental (abr. 2015 abr. 2019), Subcoordenadora (dez. 2014 nov. 2016) e Coordenadora (dez. 2016 maio 2021) do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental (PPGEA/UFSC), Coordenadora do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental Mestrado Profissional (nov. 2021 nov. 2023) e Coordenadora do subprojeto Pesquisa e Inovação para Cidades Inteligentes e Ambientalmente Sustentáveis Águas, Resíduos e Energia Renovável, vinculado ao Projeto Institucional de Internacionalização PRINT (CAPES Edital n 41/2017), no período de nov. 2018 a out. 2024.

  • Gabriel Tochetto, Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Possui graduação em Engenharia Ambiental e Sanitária pela Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS/2020) e mestrado em Engenharia Química pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC/2023). Doutorando no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC/2027) e PhD student no Program of Industrial Engineering (Materials Engineering curricula) na Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD/2027). Tem interesse em pesquisas na área de tratamento de águas de abastecimento e residuárias e no desenvolvimento de novos materiais, incluindo impressão 3D, com aplicações na área ambiental.

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Publicado

21-08-2026

Edição

v. 8 n. 1 (2026): Revista Gestão & Sustentabilidade

Seção

Avaliação e mitigação de impactos ambientais

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Copyright (c) 2026 Renata de Arcega Leal, Amanda Dalalibera-Nunes, André Aguiar Battistelli, Tiago José Belli, Maria Eliza Nagel-Hassemer, Gabriel Tochetto

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LEAL, Renata de Arcega; DALALIBERA, Amanda; BATTISTELLI, André Aguiar; BELLI, Tiago José; NAGEL-HASSEMER, Maria Eliza; TOCHETTO, Gabriel. Phosphorus removal in membrane bioreactor systems: a systematic review of operational parameters and configurations. Revista Gestão & Sustentabilidade, Brasil, v. 8, n. 1, p. e15643, 2026. DOI: 10.36661/2596-142X.2026v8n1.15643. Disponível em: https://periodicos.uffs.edu.br/index.php/RGES/article/view/15643. Acesso em: 28 ago. 2026.