Membrane Bioreactor Plants
for Wastewater Treatment

The MBR Process: How Does it Work?

The Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) process is a revolutionary wastewater treatment method that combines conventional activated sludge treatment with advanced membrane filtration. The biological process begins with the activated sludge system, where microorganisms break down organic material in the wastewater. This is followed by the membrane filtration stage, where fine-pore membranes filter the treated water, effectively trapping any remaining solids, bacteria, and viruses. The result is high-quality effluent that surpasses the strictest environmental standards. MBR water treatment systems are renowned for their efficiency, compact design, and adaptability, making them a preferred choice for wastewater treatment.

Conventional Activated Sludge vs Membrane Bioreactor Systems

While both Conventional Activated Sludge systems and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems serve the purpose of wastewater treatment, they differ significantly in their processes and efficiencies.

CAS systems, the more traditional method, consist of a series of steps, including biological treatment in an aeration tank and solid-liquid separation in a secondary clarifier. However, these systems can be limited by their larger footprint and often require additional tertiary treatment to meet stringent effluent water quality requirements.

MBR water treatment systems integrate the biological degradation step with membrane filtration in one single process. This innovation significantly increases the system’s efficiency and allows for a more compact design. Further, MBR systems produce a high-quality effluent that is directly suitable for most reuse applications without any additional treatment, thanks to the advanced membrane filtration technology.

Cost Reduction Compared to Conventional Activated Sludge Systems

Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems exhibit cost-effectiveness over Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) systems in several ways. Firstly, the compact design of MBR systems results in smaller infrastructure needs, directly translating to less capital expenditure in constructing large tanks and facilities required by CAS systems. Secondly, because MBR systems produce high-quality effluent, they eliminate the need for additional tertiary treatment processes often required by CAS systems, saving significant operational costs over time. And thirdly, the robustness and adaptability of MBR systems to changing wastewater loads decrease the risk of system failure, thus minimizing potential repair or replacement costs. The cumulative effect of these savings makes MBR systems from Newterra a more cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment.