Advantages and disadvantages of using MBBR technology
The use of MBBR technology has several advantages and disadvantages, which we explain in our article today. We are pleased to receive your inquiries about the effectiveness of treating gray water and wastewater using MBBR technology.
Advantages of using MBBR technology
There are many advantages of using MBBR technology compared to its disadvantages:
Highest effective sludge retention time (SRT)
Sludge retention time is the length of time that a given unit of biological media operates effectively within the bioreactor.
As a fixed film system, the SRT of MBBR is much longer than a suspension growth system. As the biomedia can be drawn from the reactor at the outlet. Such systems require a sludge recirculation line. In the moving bed bioreactor process. The plastic carriers are kept inside the reactor by a mesh sieve at the outlet, so none of the biofilm is lost.
Low hydraulic retention time (HRT)
Hydraulic retention time refers to the amount of time the bioreactor needs to effectively treat the wastewater. Thanks to the combination of mobile carriers with highly concentrated biofilms. HRT is shorter for these mobile bioreactor systems when compared to others, usually only needing a maximum of a few hours based on organic load.
Responds to load fluctuations without operator intervention
Many other treatment methods, biological or otherwise, must be diligently monitored for fluctuations in pregnancy so that doses can be adjusted accordingly. With MBBR, this is unnecessary for fluctuations that are not significantly large.
Biofilms are naturally able to adjust slightly to accommodate different sizes, concentrations or contaminants.
Low sludge production
One of the biggest problems when dealing with wastewater is the sludge produced after certain processes. Biological systems are no different. However, since MBBR is a fixed membrane system, nothing is added to the effluent and so the volume of sludge produced is smaller than in additive biological processes.
Less space required
Thanks to the large internal surface area of the plastic carriers and the high bacterial concentration of the biofilm, the moving bed bioreactor units are more compact and occupy less floor space than other biological processing systems.
Resilient to toxic shock
In a similar vein to their response to load fluctuations, MBBR systems are also resilient to toxic shock, a problem with other biological therapies. Some pollutants in wastewater can kill bacteria in the biological medium, but MBBR biofilms can respond and recover from these toxins.
The performance of the process is independent of the secondary clarifier
Activated sludge systems use recycled sludge to increase SRT. However, if there are separation problems occurring in the filter, the return sludge may be of lower quality and affect the performance of the reactor.
This is not a problem with MBBR systems because there is no need for recirculation since it is a fixed film system.
Improved leveling properties
The quality of the reactor water flow into the clarification tank can affect the quality of the treated water.
This can be a problem in some other biological treatment systems, but MBBR systems and their fixed bed and suspended media properties ensure that the solids are well stabilized, with little to no turbidity in the supernatant and low water content in the sludge.
Disadvantages of using MBBR technology
Manual bacteriological monitoring required
Biological systems are more difficult for microbial monitoring than other treatments. You cannot simply place a sensor in the tank to constantly track bacteria in biological media. Operators must regularly sample the media and analyze it in the laboratory by hand to ensure the bacteria are alive and healthy.
Skilled operators must be available
In order to monitor biological media, operators must be experts in biological water treatment. The physical operation of these systems is not particularly complex. However, the biological processes that occur are complex and require some skilled personnel to ensure they work properly.
MBBR treatment systems combine some of the best qualities of the activated sludge process and intermittent filters without their drawbacks, but they are not without a few of their own. But in cases and applications, the benefits can outweigh the negatives.
Factors to consider when choosing between using MBBR technology and an MBBR reactor
There are a wide range of factors that influence the design of a wastewater treatment plant and the choice of technologies that will be part of it. That is why it is important to analyze the specific characteristics of each case. As well as the needs and goals raised by the client.
In designing a water treatment plant, we may be faced with the need to choose between an MBR system or an MBBR reactor. Although the choice of one technique or another depends on the specific needs of the project and there is no formula that can be applied in general, there are a series of conditions that are usually met in most cases:
Required quality of treated water:
MBR systems produce high-quality treated water, thanks to their ability to remove small particles. Treated water can be reused in production processes and in other applications such as washing, irrigation, sanitary networks, etc.
Composition of wastewater:
The composition of wastewater indicates the types of pollutants to be treated and how much is present in the effluent. MBR systems offer greater versatility in the variety of contaminants they can treat. On the other hand, MBBR reactors can provide better performance in wastewater that is not as complex and requires simple processes, such as reducing COD or BOD.
Waste water volume:
MBBR reactors have a higher hydraulic capacity and can handle a larger amount of cubic meters daily.
Installation and operating costs:
Design, construction, operation, and maintenance costs are important factors in selecting a wastewater treatment system. An MBBR reactor usually has a higher cost in its design and construction but offers lower operating and maintenance expenses. The MBR system is characterized by higher operating and maintenance costs due to the presence of membranes. That requires higher energy consumption to maintain the required pressure and a greater investment in maintenance, due to their cleaning and replacement. That must be performed periodically.
Environmental conditions:
Local environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and the presence of chemicals can affect system selection.
