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MABRs, MBRs and MBBRs

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The processes of membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR), moving-bed bioreactor (MBBR), and membrane bioreactor (MBR) represent three distinctly different biological treatment technologies.

Two of the processes (the MABR and MBBR) are fixed-film in configuration, whereas the MBR is a modified activated sludge (or suspended growth) process. Since only the MBR provides membrane separation of the water from the solids, it’s also the only one of the three able to provide substantial disinfection and complete clarification. Against this, the MBR is generally higher in energy consumption and more complex in operation because of the requirement to control permeation through the membrane.

Of the two fixed-film processes, the MBBR is the simpler, being based on relatively inexpensive suspended plastic media particles on which the biofilm grows. The oxygen for maintaining the biofilm is provided by air bubbles generated by conventional fine-bubble diffusers. In the case of the MABR, the biofilm grows on the membrane, and the oxygen is fed directly into the biofilm in ‘bubbleless’ molecular form via the membrane.

The membrane-based wastewater technologies (MABR and MBR, above) and the mobile carrier system (MBBR, below). CBD: coarse-bubble diffuser; FBD: fine-bubble diffuser Credit: Judd Water & Wastewater Consultants
The membrane-based wastewater technologies (MABR and MBR, above) and the mobile carrier system (MBBR, below). CBD: coarse-bubble diffuser; FBD: fine-bubble diffuser
The membrane-based wastewater technologies (MABR and MBR, above) and the mobile carrier system (MBBR, below). CBD, coarse-bubble diffuser: FBD, fine-bubble diffuserCredit: Judd Water & Wastewater Consultants

The characteristics and applications of the three different processes are given below.

MABR, MBBR and MBRs
Abbreviation Name Process category Purpose
MABRMembrane aerated-biofilm reactorFixed filmIntensive (low-footprint) biological treatment using a membrane both as the biofilm substrate and for molecular (‘bubbleless’) aeration
MBBRMoving bed bioreactorFixed filmControllable biological treatment at relatively low energy demand using agitated media as the biofilm substrate
MBRMembrane bioreactorSuspended growthIntensive (low-footprint) biological treatment using a membrane for clarification and substantial disinfection

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About this page

'MABRs, MBRs and MBBRs' was written by Simon Judd

This page was last updated on 29 November 2022

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