SBR

A fill-and-draw activated sludge system for wastewater treatment

SBR operation is consist of 5 basic steps: Idle, Fill, React, Settle, and Draw
Idle step: occurs between the Draw and the Fill Steps, during which treated effluent is removed and influent wastewater is add
Fill Step: Influent wastewater is added to the reactor during this step. There are 3 variations for Fill step: static fill, mixed fill, an
Static Fill is characterized by no mixing or aeration, meaning that there will be a high substrate concentration when mixing beg
A high food to microorganisms (F:M) ratio creates an environment favorable to floc forming organisms vs. filamentou
It also favor organisms that produce internal storage products during high substrate conditions, a requirement for bi
Mixed Fill classified by mixing influent organics with the biomass, which initiates biological reactions.
During mixed fill, bacteria biologically degrade the organics and use residual oxygen or alternative electron acceptor
Denitrification may occur under these anoxic conditions. Denitrification is the biological conversion of nitrate-nitrog
Anoxic condition is defined as an environment in which oxygen is not present and nitrate-nitrogen is used by the mic
Anaerobic conditions can also be achieved during the mixed fill phase.
Anaerobic conditions are characterized by the lack of oxygen and sulfate as the electron acceptor.
Aerated fill is classified by aerating the contents of the reactor to begin the aerobic reactions completed in the React step.
d and influent wastewater is added.
r Fill step: static fill, mixed fill, and aerated fill.
concentration when mixing begins.
forming organisms vs. filamentous organisms, which provides good settling characteristics for the sludge.
conditions, a requirement for biological phosphorus removal

or alternative electron acceptors, such as nitrate-nitrogen.

gical conversion of nitrate-nitrogen to nitrogen gas.
trate-nitrogen is used by the microorganisms as the electron acceptor.

tron acceptor.
ompleted in the React step.
MABR

Introduction
Membranes combined with biological processes are increasingly used in the treatment of wastewaters as well as in fermentati
The term "membrane biological reactor" may prefer to three generally different membrane-biological processes as the followin

a. Membrane Separation Bioreactor

it is characterized by a separation membrane submerged in or externally connected to a suspended biom
the function of the membrane is to retain biomass solids in the bioreactor while separate and remove tre

b. Extractive Membrane Bioreactor (EMBR)

this process employs a membrane to selectively extract toxic organic pollutants from wastewater into biom
the system is capable of preventing the direct contact between the toxic organic pollutants and the aerati

c. Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor

a gas-permeable membrane (often a hollow fiber membrane) is used as the carrier for biofilm growth and
soluble pollutants in the liquid diffuse from the biofilm-liquid interface into the biofilm whereas oxygen in
bubble-less aeration is achieved through the gas permeable membrane in the MABR.
biodegradation of organic compounds occurs in the biofilm.

Membrane Aerated Bioreactor

MABR Configuration
MABR uses hollow fiber membrane
This hollow fiber membrane separates the reactor into a liquid phase zone (bulk liquid on the shell side) and a gas
the membrane plays two(2) primary roles: 1. carrier for biofilm growth; 2. diffuser for aeration to biofilm
Soluble components in the liquid are supplied to the biofilm as substrates from the biofilm-liquid boundary layer an
Oxygen diffuses through the membrane into the biofilm and oxygen concentration in the biofilm decreases with the
Dependent on the condition of oygen and substrate supply, the biofilm may contain oxygen- rich and oxygen-deplete

Characteristcs of a MABR
1. Unique biofilm structure and stratification.
Membrane aerated biofilms have a fundamentally different stratification as compared to conventional biofilms grow
Conventional biofilms on inert surfaces maintain the highest microbial activity at the biofilm-liquid interface where b
Membrane aerated biofilms receive the potentially limiting substrates from the opposite sides of the biofilm, usually
Aerobic condition will be maintained in the biofilm near the surface but anaerobic condition will prevail in the bio

2. Bubble-less aeration
Bubble less aeration is achieved through a gas-permeable hydrophibic membrane.
Pressured air or oxygen or the like is supplied from the lumen of hollow fiber membrane and diffuses through the m
tewaters as well as in fermentation and cell cultivation, etc.
ological processes as the followings:

connected to a suspended biomass growth bioreactor, such as the conventional activated sludge process.
r while separate and remove treated effluent, just like a replacement of the traditionally used secondary clarifier or sedimentation tank in a

utants from wastewater into biomedium where degradation of the toxic organic pollutants take place.
organic pollutants and the aerating gas, thus preventing or reducing the possible stripping loss of the toxic pollutants into the atmosphere.

he carrier for biofilm growth and also the diffuser for oxygen supply to the biofilm.
to the biofilm whereas oxygen in the lumen side of the membrane diffuses through the membrane into the biofilm from the biofilm-memb
n the MABR.

quid on the shell side) and a gas phase zone (space on the lumen side).
for aeration to biofilm
biofilm-liquid boundary layer and the concentrations of the substrate decrease with the biofilm thickness toward the biofilm-membrane in
n the biofilm decreases with the biofilm thickness toward the biofilm-liquid boundary layer.
oxygen- rich and oxygen-depleted regions, resulting in the stratification of the biofilm into possibly aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic zones.

ed to conventional biofilms grown on inert surface.

e biofilm-liquid interface where both aerobic and substrate-rich conditions exist.
osite sides of the biofilm, usually leading to a thicker zone of microbial actiity in the biofilm
condition will prevail in the biofilm near the biofilmnear the biofilm-liquid interface.

rane and diffuses through the membrane into the biofilm without bubble formation when the partial pressure of gas is controlled at bellow
arifier or sedimentation tank in a conventional activated sludge treatment process. Advantages: superior effluent quality, improved organic

pollutants into the atmosphere.

e biofilm from the biofilm-membrane interface.

oward the biofilm-membrane interface

c, anoxic, and anaerobic zones.

sure of gas is controlled at bellow its bubble point pressure

ffluent quality, improved organic biodegradation efficiency, smaller footprint, and high organic load rates.