A REPORT ON

MBBR (MOVING BED BIOFILM REACTOR)

BY
S. MANUJA
MM AQUA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
BEHRAMPUR ROAD, KHANDSA,
GURGAON, HARYANA 122001(INDIA)

2010
WHAT IS MBBR (MOVING BED BIOFILM REACTORS) ?
.
MBBR are a hybrid of activated sludge and biofilter processes (Odegaard, 2004). Unlike
most fixed film bioreactors, MBBR utilize whole tank volume for biomass. However,
contrary to activated sludge reactor, MBBR does not need return activated sludge (RAS).
MBBR achieve its treatment strategy by having a biomass grow on plastic high surface
area carriers that move freely in the water volume of the reactor kept within the reactor
volume by a sieve arrangement at the reactor outlet. At the bottom of the tank, large
bubble aeration system assures mixing and floating of plastic carriers with attached
biomass.

WHAT IS BIOFILM CARRIER LIKE ?

The biofilm carrier is made of high density PP (0.92 g/cm3)

and shaped as small cylinders with a cross on the inside of
the cylinder and “fins” on the outside. Various shapes and
sizes are introduced by numerous manufacturers. One of the
important advantages of the moving bed biofilm reactor is
that the filling fraction of carrier in the reactor may be subject to
needs. That means that by increasing the filling fraction one
can increase surface area and capacity of the reactor to
reduce BOD’s without additional tanks (it shall be noted that
Oxygen demands also increases simultaneously). Microorganisms growing on such
media are also much more resistant to pH and toxic shock as well as fluctuations in
BOD’s. Produced biosolids are also easy to separate and dewater.

The bactera’s/activated sludge grow on the internal surface of the carriers. The bacteria’s
break down the organic matter from the waste water. The aeration system keeps the
carriers with activated sludge in motion. Only the extra amount of bacteria’s growth, the
excess sludge will come separate from the carriers and will flow with the treated water
towards the final separator.

For this option, Kaldnes provided the design

concept criteria. Media would be added to the
existing aeration tanks, where nitrification
would occur. Data below summarizes design
criteria for the MBBR nitrification system and
denitrification system. Because the MBBRs
would be treating primary effluent, the analysis
for MBBR accounted for nitrogen removed via
assimilation into the biomass produced during
BOD removal. The biomass for biological
treatment would grow on the media, thus eliminating the need for recycling solids from
the secondary clarifiers. Stainless steel sieves would be installed at the outlets of the
aeration basins to retain the media.
Additional facilities for
producing oxygen would
also be required in
comparison to the
conventional aeration
systems. Effluent from
the aeration basins would
be deaerated before
flowing to additional
MBBRs for
denitrification. De
-aeration can be
accomplished by nitrogen
stripping, which drives
dissolved oxygen from
the wastewater. Nitrogen gas is a by-product of the cryogenic pure-oxygen generation
system. Carrier media movement is provided by coarse bubble aeration/ fine bubble
aeration in the portion of the reactor containing the media.

DESIGN CRITERIA FOR MBBR

Moving Bed Bio-film Reactor for Nitrification

With Specific surface area m2/m3 500

% fill of carrier element 65

Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor for Denitrification

Loading rate g/m2.d 2.45
With Specific surface area m2/m3 500
% fill of carrier element 40

Table 1. Showing design specifications for MBBR

MBBR Design Specifications

Design influent BOD (average, mg/l) 1,200
Design influent TSS (average, mg/l) 400
Design average FOG (mg/l) 60
Design maximum temperature (oC) 35
Number of tanks 2
Reactor Empty Bed Volume (m3) 67.96
Bulk volumetric filling of carriers% 50
Hydraulic Retention Time at Design
Flows (Hours) 8
Specific biofilm surface area (m2/m3) 250
Design Soluble BOD Load (kg/day) 340
Design Surface Area (m2) 17,000
Loading Rate (kg/1,000m2/d) 20

STEPS INVOLVED WITH MBBR TREATMENT:

• Remove large objects and particles that interfere with the performance of the
MBBR System self cleaning rotary drum screen was installed

• To address fluctuations in wastewater contaminants concentration, additional

equalization tanks (EQ) are installed.

COMPARISION WITH OTHER AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES

Source: Executive Summary, Environmental Study Review: Secondary Treatment Upgrading Options,
Owen Sound Wastewater Treatment Plant, Owen Sound, Ontario