Biological treatment
MEMBRATOR™
MBR at MLSS 15–25 g/L where the effluent has to be reuse-grade.
A membrane bioreactor: membrane filtration in place of secondary settling, holding far more biomass and producing reuse-grade effluent.
The MEMBRATOR technology combines biological treatment and membrane filtration to treat wastewater. A membrane barrier separates and retains suspended solids and microorganisms within the bioreactor while allowing treated water to pass through. MBR systems provide high-quality effluent with a reduced footprint and energy consumption compared to traditional treatment methods, ideal for applications requiring stringent discharge standards and water reuse.
How it works
The process
A membrane bioreactor combines membrane filtration with biological treatment. Because the membrane, not gravity settling, separates the biomass from the treated water, the reactor can hold a much higher biomass concentration and the secondary clarifier disappears entirely. The membrane also retains bacteria, so the effluent needs no additional disinfectant, and its quality is low enough in pollutants to be reused.
Specifications
| MLSS | 15–25 g/l |
| Effluent TSS | < 10 mg/l |
| Secondary clarifier | Not required |
| Disinfection | No extra disinfectant: membrane retains bacteria |
| Effluent | Reuse-grade |
Key advantages
- Higher phase separation efficiency
- Higher biological loading rate: MLSS up to 15–25 g/l
- Very low effluent suspended solids, below 10 mg/l
- Treated water can be reused because pollutant concentrations are so low
- No secondary clarifiers needed
- No extra disinfectant needed
Gallery
Where it is applied
- Process water recovery
- Tight discharge consents
- Pharmaceutical process effluent
- High-strength streams in a small footprint
- Small works with strict limits
- Sites with no room for clarifiers
Case studies
Written up with commissioning data, influent and effluent.
Reference plants
1 plant delivered with MEMBRATOR to date.
| Plant | Location | Capacity | Year | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xellia Gyógyszervegyészeti Kft. | Budapest, Hungary | 600 m³/day | 2018 | MBR |
Have a project?
Request a technical assessment