Common Misconceptions About MBBR Biofilm Reactor Wastewater Treatment

When searching for information about a product or service that interests you. It can sometimes be difficult to find answers to your specific questions. Sometimes you can’t find anything and end up making inferences based on what you find. Sometimes, these inferences can be partially or completely wrong. So we’ll provide a brief description of the MBBR biofilm reactor process and discuss common misconceptions about this wastewater treatment technology.

What is MBBR?

A moving film bioreactor is a fixed film biological treatment process that combines the benefits of an activated sludge process with a flow filter. The carrier media (which can come in a variety of shapes and sizes) is where the most important biofilm resides. These carriers are designed to maximize their internal surface area so that larger amounts of biofilm can grow. The biofilm contains very high concentrations of bacteria and parasites and is kept thin inside the carriers to avoid excessive clogging. Using either a diffusion aeration system or a mixer in case of anaerobic or anoxic decomposition, the carriers are kept inside the reactor. The constant movement encourages better contact between the biofilm and the substrate within the effluent solution. The bacteria absorb and metabolize the organic matter in the effluent and produce some natural elements and compounds depending on whether the process is aerobic, anaerobic, or anoxic.

After aeration, the effluent is pumped into a clarification tank where solids and liquids are separated and the supernatant is sent for further treatment while the sludge at the bottom of the filter is sent to a separate sludge holding tank.

Cannot handle high loads

In fact, one of the best parts of the MBBR biofilm reactor process is how flexible it is with minimal operator intervention. The highly concentrated biofilm remains stable within the tank. is adjustable to react to the increased load of wastewater and its metabolism.

Not resistant to toxic shocks

This is not true. MBBR biofilm reactor systems are actually better able to handle toxic shock than many biological processes because they are able to handle variations in contaminant loadings.

Media Loss

The idea of ​​a fixed film process is to keep the biofilm in the tank. This is what sets the MBBR biological process apart from traditional activated sludge processes. Occasionally, there have been reports of carrier media slipping out of the reactor. Inside an MBBR biofilm reactor, there is supposed to be a screen installed at the outlet. That prevents this from happening. However, if the screen is not sized properly (or installed correctly in some cases), the media can slip out. This problem can be avoided entirely if you partner with a good company with competent designers. Who makes sure to double-check things like making sure the mesh openings in the screen are not larger than the carriers.

I should also point out that a lot of water treatment companies use plastic for their carriers. They are cheap and easy to make. However, depending on their shape, they can sometimes come loose, clog, or get washed out through the screen. Again, if these carriers are well-designed, this shouldn’t be a problem.

MBBR Media Smells Bad

Absolutely. If they are stagnant. There are a lot of fixed film systems that have a layer of coated media and the effluent is poured over it. The media sits in a tank in the sun while the organic-filled fluid is sprayed over it. This is sure to cause an odor problem, especially on hot days.

However, the MBBR biofilm reactor doesn’t have this problem. It is a dynamic fixed film system. The aeration system keeps the fluid constantly moving in the tank. If it doesn’t have time to sit and stagnate, it doesn’t smell, like an activated sludge system.

However, if you still need clarification or if you don’t see an answer to one of your questions listed here. You can request more information from CareWater, a water and wastewater treatment solutions company.