Advancement in biological wastewater treatment using hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR): a review

Abstract Last two decades have brought commendable respect for biofilm processes in wastewater treatment. Preeminent components from both the biofilter processes and activated sludge are utilized in evolving the moving bed process which eliminates major pollutants, organic matter and nutrients from municipal as well as industrial wastewater. The present review work is an endeavor to focus on the moving bed biofilm process for wastewater treatment applied in different aspects. An overview of MBBR development along with the factors affecting the operational performance of the system is discussed. It also analyses and investigates the state of the art of MBBR process for organic matter and nutrient removal. The review further assesses the MBBR technology as a hybrid system with current findings. Furthermore, the scope for future research prospects and challenges of the moving bed process has been discussed.