MBBR technology working mechanism for Wastewater Treatment

MBBR technology working mechanism is a revolutionary approach to biological wastewater treatment. With MBBR systems, costs, energy and space can be saved while improving their overall operations.

Why MBBR?

Comprehensive design and engineering processes contribute to the unique advantages that MBBR systems offer. MBBR engineers focus on reducing the following elements:

• Energy and operating costs: MBBR systems have optimal energy efficiency, resulting in lower operating costs.
• Reactor size and hydraulic retention time (HRT): MBBR systems have a low hydraulic retention time (HRT), which enables MBBRs to operate effectively in smaller reactors.
• Control complexity: Because MBBR systems use a biological treatment process, microorganisms are responsible for the majority of the treatment. As a result, the system requires less attention and intervention from the operator, making operation simple.
• Footprint: MBBR systems use biofilm carriers, which provide a large surface area for microbial growth. The additional mass of microorganisms provides greater treatment capacity in a relatively smaller footprint.

In addition, MBBR systems increase factors such as:

• Treatment efficiency: MBBR provides better treatment efficiency than other types of wastewater treatment systems while requiring less space and budget.
• Hydraulic capacity: MBBR systems can handle more water in a given time than other systems, enhancing overall efficiency.
• Volumetric efficiency: With bacteria managing most of the treatment process, the components in an MBBR system can remain in better condition. As a result, the system improves the amount of water flowing through the pumps.
• Process life: The biofilm media carriers that carry the MBBR bacteria have a long life. In turn, the system’s process life is also increased.

MBBR systems increase performance and cost-effectiveness through intelligent design principles.

Also read: Advantages and disadvantages of using MBBR technology

MBBR technology working mechanism for Wastewater Treatment

Before explaining the details of MBBR, it is helpful to understand the general category that this type of wastewater treatment falls under. MBBR is a biological process, as opposed to a chemical or mechanical process. Here is a technical breakdown of what makes a biological process unique.

Biological processes for water treatment use small organisms such as bacteria or nematodes to help break down waste. Consider all the organic materials found in wastewater. Biological processes take advantage of natural cellular processes to break down this waste.

Introducing specific microorganisms into wastewater allows nature to take its course as these microorganisms break down and consume the waste they come into contact with. If complex waste materials are present in the water, the microorganisms can convert them into simpler substances, which can then be filtered through further treatment.

In many cases, the next stage after the initial treatment process for biological wastewater treatment has already occurred to remove certain materials. Additional processes may also come into play after the biological process. Whether used alone or as part of a more comprehensive water treatment process, biological wastewater treatment processes are efficient, environmentally friendly and economical.

Video explaining MBBR technology working mechanism

History of wastewater treatment using a moving bed biofilm reactor?

The MBBR technology was developed by Norwegian researchers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The goal of MBBR was to compensate for some of the problems that characterize other biological wastewater treatment methods, and it has done so effectively. MBBR combines many of the strengths of biological processes, particularly the non-activated sludge process and biofilm media, while eliminating or reducing the shortcomings that tend to come with biological wastewater treatment processes.

Because of the many benefits it offers, MBBR has become a popular method for biological wastewater treatment. MBBR uses plastic carriers covered with biofilms to decompose waste. In addition to being an effective means of removing organic matter, MBBR is also an innovative method for nitrification and denitrification.

As with other biological treatment processes, MBBR is often part of a multi-step wastewater treatment system, with other processes focusing on different aspects of purification. For this reason, an MBBR process flow chart often includes other steps, such as grit removal and disinfection. Individual plants can customize their MBBR process and overall wastewater treatment system to meet their purification needs.

MBBR Design Components

Here is a breakdown of how the MBBR process works. One helpful way to understand this process is to look at the different MBBR design components that work together to make this technology possible.

Basin:

The MBBR process takes place in a Basin, also known as a reactor or aeration tank. The size of this vessel depends on the filtration needs of a particular plant. Incoming water enters this bowl for treatment, and may enter a second Basin for further MBBR treatment or another type of water treatment process. MBBR aeration tanks are open at the top, exposing the water to the open air, making this an aerobic filtration process.

Media:

The bowl is filled with thousands of tiny plastic flakes, called media or carriers. This media can take up as much as 50 to 70% of the tank. The design of these carriers maximizes the surface area they provide for biofilm growth. Many carriers resemble circular pasta. It mimics the density of water, allowing it to mix throughout the liquid, rather than floating or spilling.

Aeration Grid:

Another thing that helps the media move efficiently throughout the tank is the aeration grid. This device is a fan located at the bottom of the reactor tank. The aeration grid helps keep the carriers moving so that they can come into contact with all the waste present and break it down efficiently, and it also introduces more oxygen into the tank.

Sieve:

When visualizing the MBBR system described so far, one might wonder how the media stays in the tank, rather than escaping through the outlet. This would be a problem if there was no sieve attached to the tank. The mesh material allows water to pass through, but keeps the plastic carriers inside the tank.

With an appreciation of the components that make MBBR possible, it is easy to understand how the process works. The microorganisms attached to the media in the tank consume the waste present in the water, making it cleaner and safer for reuse or disposal. The type of microorganisms introduced into the tank depends on the type of waste that needs to be disposed of.

As mentioned earlier, MBBR process not only consumes general waste. It also plays a role in nitrification and denitrification. Nitrification is the process of converting ammonium to nitrate, and denitrification occurs when oxygen is metabolized and nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas. Because both of these processes are biological, MBBR process is an excellent method to facilitate them.

In any situation where a biological process is required to improve wastewater quality, MBBR process is a valuable method to consider.