The book covers the subject of membrane bioreactors (MBR) for wastewater treatment, dealing with municipal as well as industrial wastewaters. The book details the 3 types of MBR available and discusses the science behind the technology, their design features, operation, applications, advantages, limitations, performance, current research activities and cost. As the demand for wastewater treatment, recycling and re-use technologies increases, it is envisaged that the membrane separation bioreactor will corner the market. Contents Membrane Fundamentals Biological Fundamentals Biomass Separation Membrane Bioreactors Membrane Aeration and Extractive Bioreactors Commercial Membrane Bioreactor Systems Membrane Bioreactor Applications Case Studies

Recent technical innovations and significant cost reductions have sharply increased the potential for using Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology in municipal wastewater treatment. MBR technology displays several advantages compared to the traditional activated sludge processes, such as high effluent quality, limited space requirement and with the possibility of a flexible and phased extension of existing waste water treatment plants. Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment describes the results of a comparative research programme involving four leading membrane suppliers: Kubota (Japan), Mitsubishi (Japan), X-Flow (Netherlands) and Zenon (Canada). Each supplier provided a pilot to represent a suitable scale - right up to full scale. These pilots were operated and optimised in the course of the research programme to achieve the best operating window under different operating regimes. The research focussed on the functionality of the membrane, the biological treatment, membrane fouling, achieved effluent quality, and system operability as well as other factors. In a number of side studies the required pre-treatment, membrane fouling/cleaning, energy usage, effluent quality and sludge processing were also addressed. The comparative pilot research was carried out by DHV Water on location at the wastewater treatment plant at Beverwijk in the Netherlands.

. A pilot-scale MBR plant was designed, commissioned and operated in parallel to the full-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment system in Nova Scotia. Samples were collected from the effluent of both treatment processes over a 3-month period (June to August 2016) and were analyzed for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia (NH3) and total phosphorus. It was found that the full-scale SBR plant was able to meet discharge regulations for all water quality parameters examined consistently except for total phosphorus. The pilot-scale MBR system was able to meet the discharge regulations for BOD and TSS consistently, and ammonia once stable operating conditions were met, but failed to meet the total phosphorus discharge water quality goals under the experimental set points and during the study period. A bench-scale coagulation study focusing on phosphorus removal was completed to complement the pilot MBR plant.

The MBR Book

During the last decade membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology has grown up to be state of the art in municipal wastewater treatment. Since 1999 the Erftverband has designed, tendered and commissioned three MBR for municipal wastewater treatment in Germany, with capacities from 3,000 to 45,000 m3/d. The Erftverband was one of the pioneers in the full scale application of the technology regularly hosted training and information workshops for plant designers and operators from all over the world. Operating Large Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment provides hands-on information on many aspects of MBR technology based on more than ten years of practical experience in the operation of MBR plants with hollow-fiber microfiltration units. It gives details on process configuration, investment and operation costs based on case studies and also in comparison to data from conventional activated sludge (CAS) treatment processes. The book contains the most recent research findings as Erftverband has been collaborating on many of the major European research projects dedicated to MBR technology. Actual process data from all treatment steps of the plants (mechanical pre-treatment, bioreactors, filtration, membrane cleaning) gives an insight into the long-term performance of the MBR plants and into the possible do’s and dont's of full scale applications and the potential for further process optimisation. It is a good source of practical advice on tendering and construction, plant management and operation. Operating Large Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment is essential reading for practitioners and researchers, providing information on many aspects of MBR technology, including actual process data, graphs and pictures that illustrate the challenges of MBR design and operation. Visit the IWA WaterWiki to read and share material related to this title: http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/MBROperation

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology is a wastewater treatment method combining biological pollutant treatment with physical membrane separation. It has gained increasing commercial significance over the last decade, with applications in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment becoming increasingly widespread. This book covers a wide variety of MBR topics, including filtration theory, membrane materials and geometry, fouling phenomena and properties, and strategies for minimizing fouling. Also covered are practical aspects such as operation, maintenance, design, and application.