Product Description

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) is a wastewater treatment process that combines a biological treatment process with a membrane separation process. MBRs are commonly used in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Here are some things to know about MBRs:

Types

There are two main types of MBRs:

• Traditional stirred tank reactor: Combines a membrane separation unit with a traditional stirred tank reactor 
• Membrane contains immobilized biocatalysts: Contains immobilized biocatalysts like enzymes, microorganisms, and antibodies

Membranes

The type of membrane used depends on the size of the contaminants being treated. For example, microfiltration (MF) is used for suspended particles, ultrafiltration (UF) is used for particles like bacteria and viruses, and nanofiltration (NF) is used for dissolved particles.

Maintenance

MBRs typically require weekly chemical maintenance cleaning and recovery cleaning once or twice a year.

Fouling

Over time, organic matter and biomass can accumulate on the membranes, which can lead to "irrecoverable fouling". This fouling can determine the membrane's lifetime.