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The 2016 MBR Survey results

In 2015, we asked 'What’s the main issue with MBRs?' This time our question addresses the topic of sludge − most of your responses from the previous three surveys had been based around this topic so…

The 2015 MBR Survey results

In February 2015, we asked you to contribute to our MBR survey with a view to sharing knowledge and experiences about the common technical issues that prevent MBRs working as they should, as well as…

The 2012 MBR Survey – the results

In our 2012 MBR survey, we asked for the views of a range of MBR stakeholders regarding the perceived technical challenges facing MBRs: What is the main technical problem that prevents MBRs working…

2019 Wastewater treatment survey – the results

In our 2019 wastewater survey, we asked the question: What influences the selection of wastewater treatment technologies for water reuse? Read the results of our survey and what it means in the…

MBR Screening Part 1: MBR screen designs and performance – an overview

Screening upstream of a membrane bioreactor remains a key concern for MBR practitioners. Screening protects the membrane from mechanical damage from sharp or abrasive particles and from clogging from…

Removal of Emerging Trace Organic Contaminants (TrOCs) by MBR

Trace organic contaminants in municipal wastewater consist of a range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals - industrial chemicals, and those chemicals used in households, excreted by…

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) process control

The interest in anaerobic MBRs (AnMBRs) relates largely to resource recovery and the circular economy − anaerobic treatment permits energy recovery through conversion of the organic carbon (OC) to a…

Survey of Japanese municipal MBRs

In Japan, over 3,000 MBRs have been in operation since the 1980s for small-scale on-site industrial/household wastewater treatment. Municipal wastewater applications began in the mid 00’s, with 19…

Mechanical shear in membrane bioreactors

In membrane separation systems, shear is probably the most significant parameter for driving the membrane process. Pressure is important but shear is arguably the property of the system which largely…

MBRs − a global picture

MBRs are growing in size and number, reflecting a growing confidence in the technology. The number of MBR membrane module products is currently increasing by 3−5 a year, and the market itself is…

The Top 20 Largest MBRs in the World?

In October 2009, we received a list of what was thought to be the 20 largest MBRs in the world at that time. The peak daily flow capacities on that list ranged from 30 to 100 MLD, with the total…

MBRs: the Chinese experience

A feature of the MBR market over the past decade is the surge in the number of very large (≥100 MLD, or megalitres/day) installations, particularly in China. Of the 55 known global installations of…

The MBR Site – what measure success?

Many marketing managers measure success by the number of clicks their advert receives, directing traffic to their website. This is a fairly simplistic measure for a niche website like The MBR Site:…

MBR CAPEX costs – large versus small

A 2015 analysis courtesy of Ecologix in Taiwan deconstructed the MBR technology of a small-scale plant into its constituent parts. When the components of MBR technology were considered, it is the…

MBR global capacity

Of all the questions that crop up about MBR technology, perhaps the most frequent is, 'What is the global capacity of MBR treatment technology?' Of course, as with most questions of this nature, the…

MBR capacity – China and RoW

As at March 2016, Beijing Origin Water had 20 installations in China rated at 100 MLD or more, and 35 of more than 50 MLD. That puts the average capacity of these 35 plants at more than 110 MLD.…

MBRs − a random history

Who were the pioneers of immersed hollow fibre MBRs? Andrew Benedek of Zenon took a novel idea and made it into a fully-fledged and widely employed commercial product, and not overlooking Professor…

MBR academic research, past and present

Academic research into MBRs has been dominated by studies of membrane fouling and foulant characterisation. Key topics, such as process failure risk, chemical cleaning impacts on membrane life, and…

Sucking air − are MBRs too expensive, too difficult to operate?

Despite the benefits offered by MBR technology with respect to the amazingly high water quality produced, it’s hard to get away from the perception that they are too expensive, use too much energy,…

AECOM to design phase two of Oman's Al Ansab STP

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Anaerobic MBR reviews − ten research papers

A selection of abstracts from ten papers relating to anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs). The papers are all review articles, covering topics like landfill leachate, non-potable reuse, hydrogen…