The MBR Blog

Defining MABRs, MBBRs and MBRs − terms and terminology

Abbreviations like MABR, MBBR and MBR suggest these technologies are pretty similar, but actually they refer to completely different things. Let’s face it, the acronyms do kind of suggest they are related − so we define the terms in our handy table.

Biosolids vs sewage sludge

Biosolids are usually considered to be the useful fraction of the sewage sludge. They are generally higher in solids concentration and lower in pathogen content, having gone through a stabilisation process such as chemical dosing, digestion and/or drying.

Guest blog: The circular economy in wastewater management – micropollutants drive the change

Two significant micropollutants are microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and these substances are already causing water utilities to rethink their biosolids strategies, encouraging a change in mindset among industrial sectors.

Sludge incineration vs anaerobic digestion − the simple truth

Guest blog: Prospects for water reuse and the Semmelweis reflex

When travelling to California in the early 2000s,Graeme Pearce was struck by the difference in attitude to water reuse between Los Angeles and San Diego. Only 100 miles separate these two centres, but the attitude to reuse is chalk and cheese.

Membrane ageing – factors determining membrane replacement

Membrane replacement represents the third largest contribution to the operating cost of an MBR or UF/MF filtration plant, after i.a. energy demand, and there is little doubt that membrane life is of keen interest to membrane technology practitioners.

Membrane science – a geek writes

In membrane science, you have physicists (film theory, hydraulic resistance and molecular dynamics) and chemists (chemical/biochemical stoichiometry, organic polymer synthesis and Gibbs–Donnan equilibria). Oh yes, membrane science is pretty hard core.

Going forward with osmosis

Wastewater treatment offers examples of usefully combining two unit processes, like the MLE (Modified Ludzak Ettinger) process for nutrient removal, and combined screening/degritting for protecting downstream processes from rags and abrasive particles.

MBR disinfection: playing with numbers?

Stephen Katz et al.'s article 'The disinfection capability of MBRs: credit where credit’s due' raises a few intriguing questions concerning the measurement of the disinfection capability of an MBR and of any other water and wastewater treatment technology.

MBR training – plugging the gaps

It’s often said that training courses are the first thing accountants cross off the budget when money is tight. Others think blocking a couple of days out for training is too much of a luxury for today’s world. But maybe it’s a false economy.

Waste products? The circular economy in wastewater treatment

Reclamation of water for non-potable use (and, in some parts of the world, potable water supply) is very well established. This is one of the key applications of MBRs, often upstream of UV irradiation, activated carbon adsorption and/or reverse osmosis.