Chapter 1 MBR Composition and Placement
STERAPORE 5600 Series (FF) Instruction Manual
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Chapter 1
MBR Composition and Placement
STERAPORE 5600 Series (FF) hollow fiber membrane modules are submerged membrane modules used for
MBR (membrane bioreactor) wastewater treatment. Install the products in a membrane tank and use them for
solid-liquid separation.
1-1
Overview of MBR
In conventional activated sludge processing, solid-liquid separation is performed in a settling tank. However,
in the MBR system it is performed in a membrane module. Consequently, a settling tank for sludge settling is
not required in MBR systems, a high MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids) concentration can be maintained,
and 100% separation of SS (suspended solids) larger than the membrane pore diameter is possible.
Figure 1-1 shows a schematic diagram of conventional activated sludge processing and MBR.
Figure 1-1
Schematic Diagram of Conventional Activated Sludge Processing and MBR
The differences between the MBR process and the conventional activated sludge process, and the
advantages of MBR are as follows.
As the membrane pore diameter is smaller than bacteria (e.g. colon bacillus), clear, safe treated water can
be obtained. Treated water can be re-used as greywater, or used as raw water for RO (reverse osmosis)
membrane system treatment.
MBR systems are simple and compact, as a final sedimentation tank is not required.
As there is no need to allow sludge to settle, the MLSS concentration level in the aeration tank stays high,
ranging from around 5,000 to 10,000 mg/L. Consequently, the aeration tank is compact.
When inorganic coagulant addition is used for dephosphorization, the phosphate elimination rate can be
significantly improved.