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

Autores/as

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

Palabras clave:

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

Resumen

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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Biografía del autor/a

  • Renata de Arcega Leal, Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental (UFSC)

  • Amanda Dalalibera, Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Soy ingeniero ambiental y sanitario (2019), egresado de la Universidad Estatal de Santa Catarina (UDESC/CAV), y poseo una maestría en ingeniería ambiental (2022) de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). Actualmente, soy candidato a doctorado en el Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería Ambiental (PPGEA) y miembro del Laboratorio de Reutilización de Agua (LaRA/UFSC). Trabajo en el área de tratamiento de aguas residuales, con énfasis en aguas residuales textiles, integrando procesos biológicos y electroquímicos, especialmente en electrobiorreactores de membrana, con enfoque en la reutilización del agua.

  • André Aguiar Battistelli, Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Es licenciado en Ingeniería Ambiental por la Universidad Estatal del Medio Oeste de Paraná, doctor en Ingeniería Ambiental por la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, a la que accedió mediante transferencia directa de su máster, y posee un título de posdoctorado por la misma institución. Asimismo, ha realizado cursos de especialización en Ingeniería de Seguridad Laboral, Docencia en Educación Superior y Auditoría y Peritaje Ambiental. Actualmente es profesor asistente en el Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina y supervisor del Laboratorio de Reutilización de Agua (LaRA). Trabajó como investigador visitante en la Universidad de Girona (UdG), en España, en el marco de un proyecto de cooperación internacional del CNPq, en la modalidad de Desarrollo Tecnológico Superior e Innovación en el Extranjero (DES). Su investigación se centra en el área del saneamiento ambiental, con énfasis en la aplicación de tecnologías innovadoras y sostenibles para el tratamiento de efluentes sanitarios e industriales, la recuperación de recursos y la promoción de la economía circular.

  • Tiago José Belli, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Estatal de Santa Catarina, 89140-000, Ibirama, SC, Brasil

    Posee un título en Ingeniería Ambiental (2007) de la Universidad Estatal del Medio Oeste-PR. Maestría (2011), doctorado (2015) y posdoctorado (2016) en Ingeniería Ambiental de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina. Actualmente, es profesor asociado nivel 5 en el Departamento de Ingeniería Civil de la Universidad Estatal de Santa Catarina (UDESC), donde imparte asignaturas relacionadas con el tratamiento de aguas residuales. Actualmente (2025-2026), se desempeña como jefe del Departamento de Ingeniería Civil en UDESC/Alto Vale. Es profesor permanente en el Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería Civil (PPGEC/CCT) de la Universidad Estatal de Santa Catarina (UDESC), supervisando a estudiantes de maestría y doctorado en el área de investigación de Recursos Hídricos y Saneamiento Ambiental. Es revisor de revistas nacionales e internacionales. Realiza investigaciones sobre los siguientes temas: tratamiento de aguas residuales; biorreactor de membrana (MBR); biorreactor electromembrana (EBM); reactores híbridos; tratamiento de aguas residuales industriales.

  • Maria Eliza Nagel-Hassemer, Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Profesora asociada del Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). Es licenciada en Ingeniería Sanitaria por la UFSC (1983), máster en Ingeniería Ambiental por la UFSC (2000) y doctora en Ingeniería Ambiental por la UFSC (2006), habiendo realizado parte de sus estudios en la Universidad de Minho, Portugal, además de estudios postdoctorales en la UFSC (2008 y 2012). Su especialización se centra en la Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, con énfasis en técnicas convencionales y avanzadas para el tratamiento de agua y aguas residuales domésticas e industriales, el control y tratamiento de efluentes líquidos y gaseosos, la evaluación de la calidad del aire y los gases contaminantes, y la gestión ambiental, con especial atención a la Producción más Limpia y la sostenibilidad ambiental. Es líder del Grupo de Estudios de Saneamiento Descentralizado (GESAD) y miembro del grupo de investigación del Laboratorio de Efluentes Líquidos y Gaseosos (LABEFLU). Trabaja como supervisora ​​en el Laboratorio de Reutilización de Agua LaRA (UFSC/ENS) y coordinadora del Centro de Educación Ambiental NEAmb en el Centro Tecnológico de la UFSC. Fue tutora de la Junior Sanitary and Environmental Consulting Company (EJESAM) de la carrera de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental en la UFSC (agosto de 2021 - agosto de 2023). Se desempeñó como supervisora ​​del Laboratorio Ambiental Integrado LIMA del Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental (abril de 2015 - abril de 2019), subcoordinadora (dic. de 2014 - noviembre de 2016) y coordinadora (dic. de 2016 - mayo de 2021) del Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería Ambiental (PPGEA/UFSC), coordinadora del Programa de Maestría Profesional en Ingeniería Ambiental (noviembre de 2021 - noviembre de 2023) y coordinadora del subproyecto Investigación e Innovación para Ciudades Inteligentes y Ambientalmente Sostenibles: Agua, Residuos y Energía Renovable, vinculado al Proyecto de Internacionalización Institucional PRINT (Convocatoria CAPES No. 41/2017), desde noviembre de 2018 hasta octubre de 2024.

  • Gabriel Tochetto, Departamento de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental, Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Posee un título en Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria por la Universidad Federal de la Frontera Sur (UFFS/2020) y una maestría en Ingeniería Química por la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC/2023). Actualmente es candidato a doctor en el Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería Ambiental de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC/2027) y estudiante de doctorado en el Programa de Ingeniería Industrial (especialización en Ingeniería de Materiales) de la Universidad de Padua (UNIPD/2027). Sus intereses de investigación incluyen el tratamiento de agua potable y aguas residuales, y el desarrollo de nuevos materiales, incluyendo la impresión 3D, con aplicaciones en el ámbito ambiental.

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Publicado

21-08-2026

Número

Vol. 8 Núm. 1 (2026): Revista Gestão & Sustentabilidade

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Avaliação e mitigação de impactos ambientais

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Derechos de autor 2026 Renata de Arcega Leal, Amanda Dalalibera-Nunes, André Aguiar Battistelli, Tiago José Belli, Maria Eliza Nagel-Hassemer, Gabriel Tochetto

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Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución 4.0.

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Cómo citar

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 Gestión y Sostenibilidad, 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: 31 aug. 2026.