Your challenges
Achieving high-quality wastewater treatment can be challenging when space is limited, water quality is required, or an existing treatment plant needs to be upgraded.
High effluent quality requirements
Many applications require a consistent, high-quality effluent with very low solids content. Conventional clarification may not provide the separation performance required for demanding discharge or reuse applications.
Limited footprint
Available space can restrict the expansion of a wastewater treatment plant.
Increasing water reuse requirements
Reusing treated wastewater can reduce dependance on freshwater and support a more circular approach to water management.
Upgrading existing infrastructure
Existing tanks and infrastructure can often be incorporated into an MBR upgrade.
Changing operating conditons
Industrial and municipal wastewater flows and loads can vary
How does it work ?
The process
The Nijhuis BIOCTOR-MBR combines biological wastewater treatment with membrane separation. Microorganisms in the biological process break down organic pollution and support nutrient removal while the membranes provide the physical barrier for separating treated water from the biomass.
The submerged membranes can be installed directly in the aeration tank or in a separate dedicated membrane tank. Where the membranes are integrated into the biological tank, no sludge return is required.
During membrane separation, treated water passes through a semipermeable membrane, while suspended solids and biomass are retrained in the biological system. In a submerged MBR, membrane modules are immersed in the bioreactor or in a separate membrane tank; permeate is withdrawn by suction or static head, and coarse-bubble aeration. Air is used to scour the membrane surface and limit fouling. In an external MBR, mixed liquor is pumped from the bioreactor through membrane modules located outside the tank, typically using crossflow or low-speed crossflow to control the build-up of solids accumulation; the retained biomass is returned to the biological process. Depending on the selected membrane technology, operation may include periodic filtration and relaxation or backwashing, together with application-specific chemical cleaning.
Key figures
MBR concepts
Submerged flat sheet including back washable membranes, crossflow, low-speed crossflow, MMBR + LowSpeed CF-UF
30 m³/day to 13,500 m³/day
Example capacities