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The Grossimex membrane bioreactor (MBR) process is a technology that consists of a suspended growth biological reactor integrated with an ultrafiltration membrane system using hollow fiber membrane. Essentially, the membrane acts as a filter and replaces the solids separation function of secondary clarifiers and sand filters in a conventional activated sludge system. The quality of effluent achieved is superior to conventional systems.
The membranes are immersed in an aeration tank and are in direct contact with mixed liquor. Through the use of a permeate pump, a suction lift is applied that "sucks" the permeate out of the membrane, ensuring that all solids remain in the aeration tank. The flow through the membrane (called flux) is kept low to ensure long-life of the membranes and avoid frequent need of chemical cleaning. The membrane plates are also kept "clean" by air scouring the membrane plates with the air scouring action rejecting solids away from the membrane surface.
 The membrane bioreactor technology effectively overcomes the problems associated with poor settling of sludge in conventional activated sludge processes. The MBR technology permits bioreactor operation with considerably higher mixed liquor solids concentrations than conventional activated sludge systems that are limited by sludge settling, thus allowing a smaller plant footprint for the same volume of flow treated. The process typically operates at a mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration in the range of 8,000 to 10,000 mg/l and at elevated biomass concentrations to allow for highly effective removal of both soluble and particulate biodegradable material in the waste stream. Higher effluent quality is achieved, with standard operation allowing levels of BOD, SS and Ammonia-N concentrations of less than 5mg/l.
For flows of up to 400 m³/d (average), the membranes can be delivered in a skid packaged unit including the membrane tank and the equipment frame, permeate and backpulse pumps, membrane aeration blower, valves and controls though a HMI on the main machine panel.
The key benefits of such a system would be:
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Complete pre-engineered package system from screening to disinfection
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Flexible pre-engineered options
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Short timeline from submittal to an operating system
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Simple to install and operate
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In-Situ cleaning capability
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Full redundancy at average daily flow
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Compact footprint
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Rapidly expandable
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Easily integrated into an existing facility
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Dual train systems are fully redundant at average daily flows
Comparing Wastewater Treatment Technologies
MBR technology offers the following advantages over conventional wastewater treatment:
To understand the revolutionary potential of MBR technology it is helpful to first consider how a conventional wastewater treatment plant operates.
Each conventional plant consists of three basic parts:
1- The pretreatment step that involves screening out coarse
materials.
2- The biological treatment step in which bacteria acts upon
the organic materials to break them down.
3-The clarifier step that is used in the final step to separate
water from the sludge though sedimentation.
Sedimentation, however, is often incomplete with regard to
microorganisms. Typically the discharge from a conventional
plant will contain 10,000 to 100,000 microbes per milliliter.
The membrane bioreactor replaces the secondary clarifier in a standard wastewater plant whislt giving much better results, a smaller footprint and constant performance.
Membrane technology has led to a new, revolutionary concept in wastewater treatment. Membranes act as a barrier to bacteria and suspended solids to produce a low turbidity water with very low bacteria counts.
Typical MBR uses:
1- Agricultural Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
2- Automotive Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
3- Commercial Development Wastewater Treatment
4- Food and Beverage Industry Wastewater Treatment
5- Industrial Wastewater Treatment
6- Hydocarbon Processing Wastewater Treatment
7- Leachate Wastewater Treatment.
8- Livestock Industry Wastewater Treatment
9- Municipal Wastewater Treatment
10- Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment
11- Energy and Power Generation Wastewater Treatment
12- Pulp and Paper Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
13- Pre-treatment for Reverse Osmosis.
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