Development of an Integrated Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor-Membrane Bioreactor for Wastewater Treatment

Development of a MBBR-MBR has been investigated combining a moving bed biofilm reactor with a submerged membrane biomass separation reactor. Treatment efficiencies were found to be high with the production of a consistent high-quality effluent, irrespective of media fill ratio of MBBR or membrane reactor operating modes. There had some obvious fouling in MBR, MBBR and IFAS 3000, while no fouling were detected in IFAS 1500. The great difference indicated the media filling fraction have an important role and effect on membrane fouling. Traditional MBR and IFAS 3000 have more non-flocculating microorganisms in most time due to the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration. There had almost the same MLSS on media surface, independent of the volume of media and the MLSS concentration in each tank. The MBBR had more biomass enriched on membrane surface due to the dead end system.