Membrane bio-electrochemical reactors (MBER) are the combination between microbial fuel cells (MFC) and membrane bioreactors (MBR). This technology presents a high potential for wastewater treatment and nutrients removal, especially nitrogen, while generating energy from the fuel cell by electron production and transfer by bacteria in biochemical reactions. The aim of this work was to evaluate energy generation and the removal of pollutant (organic matter and nitrogen compounds) during the start-up of a pilot-scale MBER. The MBER system was assembled with the cathode in an anoxic chamber, the anode in an anaerobic one, and ultrafiltration membranes in the aerobic compartment. Results show biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals of 97 ± 3% and 97 ± 1%, respectively. Beyond that, total nitrogen removal was 80 ± 17% and the system showed high capacity for nitrification, with ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH₃) removal of 88 ± 19%. Even during start-up, the voltage generation achieved values similar to the ones of stable MBERs, with maximum voltage obtained of 482 mV. In summary, the results indicate that, even during start-up, the permeate had a similar quality to the permeate produced by membrane bioreactors, while generating energy between the electrodes.

膜生物电化学反应器 (MBER) 是微生物燃料电池 (MFC) 和膜生物反应器 (MBR) 的结合。该技术在废水处理和营养物去除（尤其是氮）方面具有很高的潜力，同时通过电子产生和细菌在生化反应中的转移从燃料电池产生能量。这项工作的目的是评估中试规模 MBER 启动期间的能源生产和污染物（有机物和氮化合物）的去除。MBER 系统与缺氧室中的阴极、厌氧室中的阳极和需氧室中的超滤膜组装在一起。结果显示生化需氧量 (BOD ₅) 和化学需氧量 (COD) 去除率分别为 97 ± 3% 和 97 ± 1%。除此之外，总氮去除率为 80 ± 17%，系统显示出高硝化能力，氨氮 (N-NH ₃ ) 去除率为 88 ± 19%。即使在启动期间，产生的电压也达到与稳定 MBER 相似的值，获得的最大电压为 482 mV。总之，结果表明，即使在启动期间，渗透物也具有与膜生物反应器产生的渗透物相似的质量，同时在电极之间产生能量。