What are membrane bioreactors used for?

Membrane Bioreactors combine conventional biological treatment (e.g. activated sludge) processes with membrane filtration to provide an advanced level of organic and suspended solids removal. When designed accordingly, these systems can also provide an advanced level of nutrient removal.

How do membrane bioreactors work?

Membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment is a combination of a suspended growth biological treatment method, usually activated sludge, with membrane filtration equipment, typically low-pressure microfiltration (MF) or ultrafiltration (UF) membranes.

What are the disadvantages of membrane bioreactor?

Specific advantages and disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages
Compact Aeration limitations
High effluent quality Stress on sludge in external MBR
High volumetric load possible Membrane pollution
High rate of degradation Cost price

What are the main manufacturers of membrane bioreactors?

Membrane bioreactors

  • Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. (
  • B&P Water Technologies srl (1)
  • Huber Technology (1)
  • Hunan Along New Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. (
  • Hytec Industrie (1)
  • Koch Membrane Systems (1)
  • Microdyn-Nadir GmbH (2)
  • Salher (1)

Why are bioreactors used?

Bioreactor systems are a vital component in the process of 3D tissue engineering and the formation of tissue constructs. Bioreactors are used to provide a tissue-specific physiological in vitro environment during tissue maturation. Based on the bioreactor technology, various tissue systems can be incubated in vitro.

What do you mean by membrane bioreactor?

‘Membrane bioreactor’ (MBR) is generally a term used to define wastewater treatment processes where a perm-selective membrane, eg microfiltration or ultrafiltration, is integrated with a biological process − specifically a suspended growth bioreactor.

What are the types of bioreactors?

The six types are: (1) Continuous Stirred Tank Bioreactors (2) Bubble Column Bioreactors (3) Airlift Bioreactors (4) Fluidized Bed Bioreactors (5) Packed Bed Bioreactors and (6) Photo-Bioreactors.

What is the disadvantage of membrane cell process?

Membrane processes can be saddled with major problems of fouling of the membranes while processing some type of feed streams. This fouling, especially if it is difficult to remove, can greatly restrict the permeation rate through the membranes and make them essentially unsuitable for such applications.

What are the significant advantages of MBR compared with conventional treatment process any drawback of using MBR?

Compared to the traditional activated sludge process, the membrane bioreactor (MBR) has several advantages such as the production of high-quality effluent, generation of low excess sludge, smaller footprint requirements, and ease of automatic control of processes.

What is the principle of bioreactor?

In bioreactors, the principle is the same; CO2 is introduced to the culture from a compressed gas cylinder. In bioreactors, the medium pH is continuously measured using a pH sensor and CO2 is added as needed.

Which type of bioreactor mode is more efficient?

In general, the airlift bioreactors are more efficient than bubble columns, particularly for more denser suspensions of microorganisms. This is mainly because in these bioreactors, the mixing of the contents is better compared to bubble columns.

What materials are membrane bioreactors made from?

Since the polymers used are all hydrophobic (i.e. ‘water hating’) they all have a tendency to be fouled by the similarly hydrophobic organic matter in the mixed liquor….Polymeric and ceramic membrane materials.

SiC Silicon carbide
TiO2 Titanium dioxide / Titania
ZrO2 Zirconium dioxide / Zirconia