A REPORT ON

MBBR (MOVING BED BIOFILM REACTOR)

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