Membrane Bioreactor

Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) are treatment processes, which integrate a perm-

selective or semi-permeable membrane with a biological process. It is the combination of a
membrane process like microfiltration or ultrafiltration with a suspended growth bioreactor, and
is now widely used for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment with plant sizes up to
80’000 population equivalents. Due to it being a very technical solution; it needs expert design
and skilled workers. Furthermore it is a costly but efficient treatment possibility. With the MBR
technology, it is possible to upgrade old wastewater plants.

Advantages

 Secondary clarifiers and tertiary filtration processes are eliminated, thereby reducing
plant footprint. In certain instances, footprint can be further reduced because other
process units such as digesters or UV disinfection can also be eliminated/ minimised
(dependent upon governing regulations)
 Can be designed to prolong sludge age, hence lower sludge production
 High effluent quality
 High loading rate capability

Disadvantages

 High operation and capital costs (membranes)

 Membrane complexity and fouling
 Energy costs

In Out

Blackwater, Greywater Faecal Sludge , Treated Water

Treatment Process and Basic Design Principles

 Typical schematic for membrane bioreactor system.

Membrane Bioreactors combine conventional biological treatment (e.g. activated sludge)

processes with membrane filtration to provide an advanced level of organic and suspended
solids removal. When designed accordingly, these systems can also provide an advanced level of
nutrient removal. In an MBR system, the membranes are submerged in an aerated biological
reactor. The membranes have porosities ranging from 0.035 microns to 0.4 microns (depending
on the manufacturer), which is considered between micro and ultrafiltration.

This level of filtration allows for high quality effluent to be drawn through the
membranes and eliminates the sedimentation and filtration processes typically used for
wastewater treatment. Because the need for sedimentation is eliminated, the biological process
can operate at a much higher mixed liquor concentration. This dramatically reduces the process
tankage required and allows many existing plants to be upgraded without adding new tanks. To
provide optimal aeration and scour around the membranes, the mixed liquor is typically kept in
the 1.0-1.2% solids range, which is 4 times that of a conventional plant.

Membrane

During MBR wastewater treatment, solid–liquid separation is achieved by Microfiltration

(MF) or Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. A membrane is simply a two-dimensional material used
to separate components of fluids usually on the basis of their relative size or electrical charge.
The capability of a membrane to allow transport of only specific compounds is called semi-
permeability (sometimes also permselective). This is a physical process, where separated
components remain chemically unchanged. Components that pass through membrane pores
are called permeate, while rejected ones form concentrate or retentate.

There are five types of membrane configuration which are currently in operation:

 Hollow fibre (HF)

 Spiral-wound
 Plate-and-frame (i.e. flat sheet (FS))
 Pleated filter cartridge
 Tubular

Hollow-fibre (HF) membrane module (Zenon, Canada) filtrating activated sludge under vacuum.

Pre-treatment

To avoid
unwanted
solids in the
waste
stream,
which enters
the
membrane
tank, fine
screening is
an essential
pre-
treatment step. This minimises an accumulation of solids and protects the membrane from
damaging debris and particles, extends the membrane life, reduces operating costs and
guarantees a higher sludge quality as well as a trouble free operation (GE 2011).

Cost Considerations

Although MBR capital and operational costs (membranes, oxygen utilisation, expert
design, etc.) exceed the costs of conventional process, it seems that the upgrade of
conventional process occurs even in cases when conventional treatment works well. This can be
related to increase of water prices and the need for water reuse as well as with more stringent
regulations on the effluent quality.

Operation and Maintenance

Most MBRs employ chemical maintenance cleaning on a weekly basis, which lasts 30–60
min, and recovery cleaning when filtration is no longer durable, which occurs once or twice a
year. A deposit that cannot be removed by available methods of cleaning is called “irrecoverable
fouling”. This fouling builds up over the years of operation and eventually determines the
membrane life-time. All O&M tasks have to be done by skilled workers.

Fouling

Modern systems ( KUBOTA systems) are maintained with chemicals, it is not necessary to
remove the membranes from the membrane tank. Organic fouling can be cleaned with as
sodium hypochlorite and inorganic fouling with oxalic acid.

Fouling occurs as a consequence of interactions between the membrane and the mixed liquor,
and is one of the principal limitations of the MBR process. Fouling of membranes in MBRs is a
very complex phenomenon with diverse interlinkages among its causes, and it is very difficult to
localise and define membrane fouling clearly. The main causes of membrane fouling are:

1) Adsorption of macromolecular
2) Growth of biofilms on the membrane surface
3) Precipitation of inorganic matter
4) Aging of the membrane

Health Aspects

Operation and maintenance of MBR systems is generally carried out by skilled labourers,
which should be sufficiently trained regarding any health risks. Sludge from the biological
system should be dewatered (e.g. mechanical dewatering or drying bed) and incinerated with
the ashes being stored in a controlled landfill.

At a glance

Working Principle Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) combine

conventional biological treatment (e.g.
activated sludge) processes with membrane
filtration to provide an advanced level of
 organic and suspended solids removal.

Capacity/Adequacy Applicable in conventional wastewater plants

Performance High

Costs High capital and operational costs

Self-help Compatibility Low

O&M Membranes need to be cleaned regularly.

Reliability High if membranes are maintained correctly.

Main strength Secondary clarifiers and tertiary filtration

processes are eliminated, thereby reducing
plant footprint.

Main weakness
High operation and capital costs (membranes).

Applicability

Membrane Bioreactor systems are widely used in municipal and industrial wastewater
treatment plants. Furthermore, MBRs are also suitable for landfill leachate treatment. It is a
high-tech system that needs expert design and professional operators.