Technology Description:
The technology is a combination of two others (MBBR and MBR) where most of the required microorganisms grow on the specific biocarriers as a biofilm (as in MBBR) and the excess biological film coagulates into flocs in the aeration tank before its retention by porous membranes (as in the case of the membrane bioreactor).
The biocarriers are retained in the bioreactors using special grates while the last department before the membranes (separation of mixed liquid) is the flocculation zone for the biofilm to create the flocs and be retained by the membranes downstream.
Basic design and operational parameters :
| M.B.B.R. | M.B.M.R. | |
| Typical biomass concentration in bioreactor | 0,25-0,5 kg/m3 | 1,5 – 3,0 kg/m3 |
| Typical SVI | 50ml/gr | |
| Typical value of max hydraulic surface load of sedimentation tank | 1,8m/hr | |
| Biomass retention in the system | Via biocarriers | Via biocarriers |
Advantages:
- Significant reduction of generated waste sludge
- Waste sludge with higher settle ability index
- Smaller footprint
- Reduced quantity of sludge for disposal => reduced operational costs
- Elimination of sludge settleability problems (sludge bulking)
- No sludge recirculation required => reduction of investment and operational costs
- Better effluent quality, close to tertiary treatment
- Partial disinfection, due to retention of pathogens from membranes
MESOGEOS applies the MBMR method to:
- Construction of new wastewater treatment plants with reduced available area, high-quality effluent requirements
- Extensions of existing wastewater treatment plants with limited area and high quality effluent requirements
Case Study
A recent application of the method by MESOGEOS SA is the Simantra WWTP Nea Propontida, Halkidiki, which is a treatment facility with a capacity of 4,500 pe.More specifically, the project includes:
- Compact pretreatment unit
- Equalization tank and pumping station feeding biological stage
- Four independent compact MBMR. type biological treatment units
- Effluent chlorination – dechlorination and disposal
Project Data :
| Budget | 2.805.679,86 incl VAT |
| Influent | Municipal wastewater |
| Capacity | 4.500 pe |
| Capacity | 1.170 m3/day |
| Influent organic load | 270 kg BOD/day |
| 230,8 mg/l | |
| Effluent quality | BOD = 10 mg/l |
| TSS = 2 mg/l | |
| TN = 10 mg/l | |
| Waste sludge produced | 110 tn SS/year |