Wastewater treatment in membrane bioreactors. Features and application

Membrane bioreactors nowadays are intensively applied in wastewater treatment worldwide. Such type of treatment systems have a large scope of implementation at facilities of different capacity. Small space demand allows placing them in conditions of limited area available. Treatment using of MBR is a combination of sludge treament and membrane filtration. Although the idea of replacing the conventional sedimentation tank activated sludge was attractive, it was difficult to adjust complex process operation of wastewater treatment due to three factors: high cost of membranes, low economic value of grey wastewater, as well as the rapid loss of membrane performance due to the pollution of her pores. Membrane module is used for the separation of sludge liquor that is an alternative to common sedimentation in secondary clarifiers. The article reveals the main features of membrane bioreactors application, concerning its advantages and disadvantages. (paper)