MBR

Wastewater treatment plants

Challenge and a new approach
- Sensitive area
- Highly developed tourist destination
- During summer, population increases
even 5 times
- Great fluctuations in inflow
 MBR (Membrane BioReactor)
technology of wastewater treatment
MBR technology of wastewater treatment

Schematic diagram of Almes MBR process

Oxidation:
C18H19O9N + 17,5 O2 → 18 CO2 + 8 H2O + NH4+
organic matter

Synthesis (microbial growth):

C18H19O9N + 0,74 NH3 + 8,8 O2 → 1,74 C5H7O2N + 9,3 CO2 + 4,52 H2O
organic matter cell biomass

Endogenous respiration:
C5H7O2N + 5 O2 + H+ → 5 CO2 + 2 H2O + NH4+
cell biomass
Nitrification:

Denitrification :
 MBR technology of wastewater treatment

STABLE PROCES – high effluent quality regardless of influent fluctuations

FLEXIBILITY – tolerant to 1-7 x hydraulic and organic overload

COMPACT DESIGN – active sludge concentracion higher than CAS results
in smaller bioreactor tanks

HIGH EFFLUENT QUALITY

HIGH SRT – 25 days or more – removes even slowly disintegrating BOD

HIGH MLSS – 8 – 12 g/l (CAS = 4 – 5 g/l)

LOW F/M – great flexibility of organic load

LOW SLUDGE PRODUCTION – 0,2 – 0,5 kgMLSS/kgBOD

STABILIZED EXCESS SLUDGE

MEMBRANE FOULING – reduced with backwashing; maintenance

cleaning with higher chemical concentration or intensive chemical cleaning
(once or twice a year)
 Comparison - MBR plant and classic biological plant

Classic biological plant

Layout
Primary
Municipal Mechanical sedimentary
Biological
treatment of
area:
waste cleaning, basin, aerated
water with
water coarse screen sand catcher-
active sludge
grease catcher

biological plant
Classic
Sedimentation

100%
UV Sand (secondary
Water for
sedimentary
reuse disinfection catcher basins)

MBR plant

plant
33%
MBR
Mechanical
Municipal MBR Water for
screening, coarse
plant reuse
wastewater and fine screen
 Quality of treated wastewater with MBR

MBR technology = includes tertiary wastewater treatment

Concentration
Value
tolerable for
achieved Efficiency of
Parameter emission in
with MBR MBR plant
recipient of
plant
2nd category
1. BOD, (mg O2/l) < 25 <2 95 ÷ 99%
2. COD, (mg O2/l) < 125 < 20 90 ÷ 96%
Suspended solids
3. < 35 <2 97 ÷ 99%
(mg/l)
4. Total P (mg/l) <1 < 0,5 87 ÷ 95%
5. Total N (mg/l) < 21 < 15 85 ÷ 96%
6. Turbidity (NTU) - <1 99,9%
7. Bacteria removal (%) - > 99,999 >99,99%
 Main characteristics of MBR technology

general advantages
 MBR technology belongs to the group of so called “Green Technologies”
 MBR plant enables total wastewater management
 compactness and small ground plan necessary for the construction of plant
 relatively small size of the plant enables fast construction
 possibility of underground or surface type of construction, with architectural
design in order to fit to the environment
 costs of plant control are lower than with classical biological wastewater
treatment plants
 Main characteristics of MBR technology

technical advantages
 flexibility regarding maximal and minimal flows within required parameters
 effluent quality is constant, regardless the influent wastewater
 small quantity of excess sludge and therewith connected costs
 excess sludge is mineralized and stabilized
 simple management of the plant, as a result of high automation and low
dependence on the human factor
 no risk of biomass loss
 complete bacteria removal
 removes even slowly disintegrating BOD
 there is no emission of odors or noise
 reduces quantity of chemicals for reduction of phosphorus
 Main characteristics of MBR technology

advantage of reuse
 possibility of reusing the treated wastewater in irrigation purposes or as
technological water classified as Class A of reclaimed water, according to EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency)
 according to that classification treated water can be used for highest range of
reuse including urban (non-potable) with uncontrolled public access, in
agricultural (human food crops consumed raw), industrial (open systems with
worker exposure potential)
 possibility of reusing the treated sewage sludge classified as Class A (with
respect to pathogens) in agriculture, but also containerized or bulk, unrestricted
use on lawn and garden and composting
Estimated cost of MBR units
Cost comparison of classic and MBR plants
 Trends in the world
Number of MBR plants in the world (>500 PE)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Time →

Source: Filtration + separation

 DEVELOPMENT OF MBR TECHNOLOGY IN COMPANY ALMES-EKO

0. analysis of wastewater treatment in year 2002.

- concept for reuse of treated wastewater
- analysis of accessible technologies
- MBR technology is chosen as the most suitable

1. Research and analysis of integration

possibilities in wastewater treatment
systems
 pilot plant in Rijeka
MBR 15 PE, 3 m3/day, 2004.
2. Construction of middle capacity plants:

MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS:

 Park Umag
MBR 5000 PE, 1000 m3/day, 2005.
• reconstruction of the existing system
• load up to 7000 PE
• small changes in operational parameters →
plant is maintaining quality of treated water
inside given parameters

 Crveni Otok
MBR 1500 PE, 300 m3/ day, 2006.
• great oscillations in inflow (daily and
summer/winter)
 Sv. Lovreč
• MBR 2 x 200 PE

 Oprtalj
• MBR 2 x 200 PE

 Gračišće
• MBR 260 PE
 Viškovići
• MBR 130 PE

 Vrhovine
• MBR 1200 PE
 Community of Perušić
• MBR 2 x 600 PE

 Lovinac
• MBR 600 PE

 Prhati
• MBR 2 x 200 PE

Aligned with the architecture of the region

LANDFILL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:

 Lokva Vidotto
MBR 13500 PE, 30 m3/ day,
• leachate
• high COD, ammonium and metals

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:

 Kanfanar
MBR 2000 PE, 450 m3/ day, 2006.
• tobacco industry
•industrial and municipal waters are
treated at the same time

 Cromaris
• fish industry
TREATMENT OF DRINKING WATER:

 Sv. Ivan

 Gradole
TREATMENT OF DRINKING WATER:

 Bužini i Gabrijeli

 Other plants under designig proces or construction

 Conclusion

• MBR plant can always achieve quality of wastewater required by law

• Number of MBR plants in the world is constantly growing
• MBR technology is constantly developing, while M&O cost is decreasing
• MBR technology is the most suitable technology for wastewater treatment